Research Methods Module Explains Key Concepts

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14MBA23
Research Methods – Module 2

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14MBA23 – Research Methods

Syllabus: Types of Business Research Design: Exploratory
and Conclusive Research Design Exploratory Research:
Meaning, purpose, methods –secondary resource
analysis, comprehensive case methods, expert opinion
survey, focus group discussions. Conclusive research
Design - Descriptive Research - Meaning, Types – cross
sectional studies and longitudinal studies. – Experimental
research design – Meaning and classification of
experimental designs- Pre experimental design, Quasi-
experimental design, True experimental design, statistical
experimental design. Observation Research – Meaning – Uses
– Participation and Non-participation – Evaluation – Conducting
an Observation study – Data collection

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The research design is a plan of action indicating the
specific steps that are necessary to provide answers
to those questions, test the hypothesis and thereby
achieve the research purpose that helps choose
among the decision alternatives to solve the
management problems or capitalize on the market
opportunity.
Kerlinger defines, "Research Design is a plan,
structure and strategy of investigation conceived so as
to obtain answers to the research questions and to
control variance".

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Features of Research Design:
1. Plan of Action ('Blue Print')
2. Provide answers to those questions, (A
structure or a plan, strategy of investigation)
3. Test the Hypothesis,
4. Purpose that helps among the alternatives to
solve the management problems or capitalize
the market opportunity.

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Qualities of a good Research Design:
1. Research Design must be based solving the problem (The
objective of the solving problem – Objective based),
2. Research Design must be reliable (Reliablity means the
answers must not be biased, if the same question is
repeatedly asked the respondent must give the same
answer)
3. Research Design must follow a valid instrument/
technique expected to measure. (A valid measuring
scale)
4. Research design need to select the respondents which
can represent a large population's thoughts
(Generalization)

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Characteristics of a good Research Design:
1. Must be simple and easily understandable by the
respondent,
2. Must be economical, incure less expenses, in brief, Cost
Effective.,
3. Must use techniques which are reliable, during Analysis
and intrepretation,
4. Must rely on techniques which are workable for the given
research,
5. Must be possible to measure or considered from
various dimensions,
6. Must be able to give accurate results (Accuracy).

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Why Research Design is important?
1. A research design is the 'Blue Print' of the study.
2. A research design of a study defines the study type
(may be descriptive, co-relational, semi-experimental,
experimental, review, meta-analytical and so on) and
its sub-type (may be descriptive-longitudinal case
study, research question, hypothesis, independent and
dependent variables, experimental designs) and if
applicable, data collection methods and statistical
analysis plan.
3. Research design is the frame work that has been
created to seek answers to research questions.

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Basic or Fundamental Questions by Social
researchers in Reseach Design, in research:
1. What is going on? (Descriptive Research)
2. Why is it going on? (Explanatory Research)

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PARTS IN RESEARCH DESIGN:
1. Sampling design (Method of selecting items to be
observed)
2. Observation design (Relates to the conditions for
observation to be created)
3. Statistical Design (Concerned with how the data
collected to be analyzed)
4. Operational Design (Techniques by which the
procedure satisfies the sampling)
(You can add, Mailing (Post or email) Design,
Telephonic, SMS Group focus and so on)

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CONCEPTS OF RESEARCH DESIGN:
1. Dependent and Independent Variables,
2. Extraneous Variables,
3. Control,
4. Confounded Relationship,
5. Research Hypothesis,
6. Experimental and Non-Experimental Hypothesis Testing Research,
7. Experimental and Control Groups,
8. Treatments,
9. Experiment, and
10. Experimental Units.

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1. Dependent and Independent Variables:
1. What is a variable?
The magnitude that varies is known as a variable.
2. What are the basic concepts of dependable
and independable variables in Reseach
Design?
Concepts of dependable and independable
variables in Research Design can be
Quantitative or Qualitative.

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1. Dependent and Independent Variables
The Quanlitative Variables are measurable and
is represented in numbers, for instance Age,
Height, Weight, Income and so on (in
numbers), while the Qualitative Variables are
expressed in terms of expression and are not
strictiest terms to measure, but quality the
presence or absence of the attribute
considered.

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The Quantitative Variable can be,

a. Continious Variable (Also known as
Endogeneous Variable) are those which appear in
fractions or decimals like a year can be expressed in
years and months, similarly a peron's age can be in
years and months, also days. (Ex: 32.6 feets, 400
years and 1 month)

b. Non-Continious Variable are those which are
qualified as a whole number and are not in decimals,
they are the integer values. (Ex: 33 feet, 400 years old
etc). In statistical terms is also called as Discrete
Variables.

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Common Example for Continious and Non
Continious Variables:
Age of students in a class is a 'Continious Variable',
while number of students in a class is a 'Non-
Continious Variable'.
The age of the students is a continious variable as the
average will appear in decimals, while number of
students is non-continious variable as they are fixed
whole number and will not change.

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Common Example for Continious and Non
Continious Variables:
Age of students in a class is a 'Continious Variable',
while number of students in a class is a 'Non-
Continious Variable'.
Independent Variable or Explanatory Variable or
Exogeneous Variables are the variables which cause
change in the dependable variables, while the
Depedent Variables or Endogeneous variables are
variables which depend on variables change on other
variables.

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Example for Dependent Variable and
Independent Variable,
"Demand is a dependable variable as it is
determined by various independent variables
like the Price of the product, Income and the
Price of the substitutes".

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2. Extraneous Variables:
a. The second concept in research design is Extraneous
Variables,
b. These are Independent Variables,
c. These are variables which are not directly related to
the purpose of study.
Example: If a reseasher wants to test the performance
and self concept of a child, where if the later is an
independent variable then the former is a dependent
variable, then in this context it would also include the
influence of the school performance. Here the self
concept will be a Extraneous Variable.

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3. Control:
a. Control is the third concept in Research
Design, where the researcher need to minimize
the Extraneous Variables. The term 'Control' is
used in experimental research to reflect the
restraints used in experimental conditions.
4. Confounded Relationship: The relationship
between the independent and interdependent
variables is said to be confounded by the
Extraneous Variables, when the dependent
variables is not free from its effects.

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5. Research Hypothesis:
Research Hypothesis is the fifth concept of
Research Design.
"When a prediction or a hypothesized relationship
is tested by adopting scientific methods is
known as Research Hypothesis". The
Research Hypothesis is the predictive
statement which relates to the dependent
variable and independent variable.

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6. Experimental and Non Experimental
Hypothesis Testing Research:
This is the 6th
concept of Research Design,
a. When a objective of the research is to test the research
hypothesis is known as 'Hypothesis Testing Research'.
But it may not be possible for testing, due to the relationship
between the independent and interdependent variables.
Hence, when the independent variable is been
manipulated it is known as 'Experimental Hypothesis
Testing Research'.

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6. Experimental and Non Experimental Hypothesis
Testing Research:
b. While, "if the independent variable is not been
manipulated then it is known as 'Non-Experimental
Hypothesis Testing Research".
Example for Experimental and Non-Experimental
Hypothesis Testing Research, can be if a researcher
wants to examine the family income with school
attendance, here the family income is independent as it
cannot be changed (Non-Experimental Hypothesis Testing
Research), hence the researcher manipulates the income
into two a. Parents who have regular income and b.
Parents who do not have regular income, therefore he can
perform his research.

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7. Experimental and Control Groups:
The seventh concept of Research Design is
Experimental and Control Groups,
In a Experimental Hypothesis Testing Research,
a. When a group is exposed to a certain new or special
conditions is known as 'Experimental Group'.
b. While if the group is exposed on usual conditions
then it is called as 'Control Group'.

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8. Treatment: Treatment is the 8th
concept in
Research Design,
"Treatment refers to the difficult conditions to
which the experimental and control groups are
subject to test".
Example, if a test need to be done on the
agricultural output in 3 different lands, then 3
different fertilizers are required exclusively
for 3 different lands, where the 3 different
fertilizers are the 3 different treatments.

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9. Experiment: Experiment is the 8th
concept in
researchdesign,
'Experiment refers to the process of verifying the truth of a
statistical hypothesis relating to a given research
problem'.
Experiment can be of 2 types – Absolute and
Comparative.
"Absolute Experiment is the experiment, where the
researcher tries to find the impact of one variable to the
other is known as Absolute Experiment",
"While if the researcher compares two similar variable and
wishes to compare from one another it is Comparative
Experiment".

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10. Experimental Units: This is the last concept
of Research Design,
"Experimental Units, are referred to the different
plots, characteristics or the blocks to which
different treatment is applied".

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
Research Design Process (Also refer M1 – 9
steps in research design)
Step 1: Selection and Definition of the problem:
Step 2: Sources of Data:
Step 3: Nature of Study:
Step 4: Objective of Study:
Step 5: Socio and Cultural Context:
Step 6: Comporal Context:
Step 7: Dimension:
Step 8: Basis of selection:
Step 9: Technique of Data Collection:

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
Step 1: Selection and Definition of the problem:
The Researcher need to
1. Define the problem clearly, so to what is his objective,
2. Which data is relavance for his study,
3. The researcher need to define clearly on operational
terms too.

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
Step 2: Sources of Data:
Second step in Research Design Process is the
a. Primary Sources of Data Collection and/ or
b. Secondary sources of data collection, relavant for his
study.
Where Primary Sources are data collected directly through
Observation, Discussion, Interview, Focus Group, Delphi
Method, which can be usually, in a form of Questionnaire,
sent by various sources, While Secondary Sources will
refer to those data which is already published.

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
Step 3: Nature of Study: This will include, whether it is
1. Experimental type of study,
2. Comparitive type of study, or
3. Statistical type of study.

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
Step 4: Objective of Study: The objective of the study can
be
a. Welfare notion or
b. Theoritical understanding or
The researcher can express the objective of his study to
enable respondents to be sincere on the responses.

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Research Design Process (Also refer M1 – 9 steps
in research design)
Step 5: Socio and Cultural Context:
The researcher can base the socio-cultural basis,
Example:- Study of the fertility rate in the economically
backward areas.
Monthly Income and expense level of (2 variables) rural
areas or urban areas.

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Research Design Process (Also refer M1 – 9 steps
in research design)
Step 6: Comporal Context:
"Comporal Context refers that the research is specific to
the population and the area selected". Which can be
'based on Geographical Limit' and can be 'Applicable to
specific group'.

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
Research Design Process (Also refer M1 – 9 steps in
research design)
Step 7: Dimension:
This refers to the specific selected respondent, who can
provide a valid answers. Dimension is important as research
cannot be performed One by One and hence Dimension is
performed.
These respondent selection process is crutial for the study as
each and every respondent's views and ideas must match the
collective view of a specific population. Example: A village
leader's views may match with the view of the complete village.

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
Step 8: Basis of selection:
The selection of respondents can be,
a. Random,
b. Stratified and Purposive,
c. Double clustered or quota sample
This is done for arriving at a valid sample size.

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
Step 9: Technique of Data Collection: Techniques can be
a. Observations, (Direct or by pre-fixed camera)
b. Interview/ Discussion, (Walk and Talk, or within walls)
c. Questionnaire,
All based on objective of study.....
As it is collected/ gathered, it can be analyzed, interpreted.

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Types of Research Design:
Research Design can be as follows:
1. Exploratory Research Design (Unknown study by
an idea, thought),
2. Conclusive Research Design (Further and deeper
in compared to Exploratory),
3. Experimental Research Design. (Pre-Experimental
Design, Quasi Experimental Design, True Experimental Design and
Statistical Experimental Design)

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1. Exploratory Research Design: Exploratory
Research is conducted,
When the researcher does not know, how and why certain
phenomenon occurs, here the hypothetical solutions or
actions are explored and evaluated by the decsion maker.
This is the first step in the research process.
Example: Quality of service in a Hotel/ Bank/ Airline, here
being the quality of service (tangible feature) cannot be
available or accessed directly.

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1. Exploratory Research Design: Exploratory
Research is the first step in the research process hence it is
used for,
1. To define the problem more precisely,
2. To identify relevant course of action, (that is to find the most
likely alternatives which can be turned into hypothesis)
3. Isolate key variables and relationships for further examinations,
4. Gain insights for developing an approach to a problem,
5. Establish Priorities for FURTHER RESEARCH.

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1. Exploratory Research Design's objectives provide insights to,
a. Identify the problems or opportunities,
b. Defining the problems more precisely,
c. Gaining deeper insights to variables operating in a situations,
d. Identify relevant alternative course of action,
e. Establishing priorities regarding potential significance of the problem
or opportunities,
f. Gaining additional insignts before an approach can be adopted,
g. Gaining information on the problem associated with doing conclusive
research.

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1. Exploratory Research Design's Purpose:
a. Exploratory Research is the initial research,
b. Exploratory Research is an Idea or observation which the
researcher seeks to understand further,
c. Exploratory Research is an attempt to lay the groundwork
for further studies,
d. Exploratory Research comes out with 2 big forms – 1. A
new topic or a 2. A new angle,

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1. Exploratory Research Methods:
Exploratory Research Methods can be,
a. Secondary Resources Analysis (Further study),
b. Comprehensive Case Methods (Include everything that is
needed, This study started with Mental Study),
c. Expert Opinion Survey (Delphi Method, gathering
Experts),
d. Focus Group Discussion (A Group of villagers, Specific
Student's Group),

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a. Secondary Resources Analysis:
Secondary Research Analysis can be one of the method to
expore the seondary data, which was originally presented
elsewhere and involves further analysis and evaluation of
the original information.
These secondary source is attempted to provide a broader
introductory overview of a topic.

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b. Comprehensive Case Methods:
The 'Case Management' originally designed as a service for
people with 'Severe and Persistent Mental Illness'. Prior to
1950s it was provided mainly in public mental hospitals
and included mental health services and day-to-day
supports.
These case management is attempted on the existing case
management models and how to prepare case managers
to provide these services.

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c. Expert Opinion Survey:
The Delphi Method is a structured communication technique,
originally developed as a systematic, interactive
forecasting method, which relies on a panel of experts.
The experts answer questionnaires in two or more
rounds, where the facilator/ reseacher provides the
summary of the experts from the different rounds to be
measured for final judgement.

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d. Focus Group Discussion (FGD):
This FCD is to gather together people from
similar backgrounds or experiences to discuss
a specific topic of interest. The group of
participants are guided by a moderator who
introduces a topic for discussion and helps the
participants in a lively and natural discussion
amongst them.

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2. Conclusive Research Design: (2nd Type)
a. Conclusive Research Design is typically more formal and
structured.,
b. Conclusive Research Design is based on large sample
and market information, subjected to for quantitative
analysis.
c. Conclusive Research is designed to assist the researcher
or decision maker in determining, evaluating and selecting
the best course of action to a given situation.

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2. Conclusive Research Design:
Conclusive Research Design is classified into 2:
a. Descriptive Research and
b. Causal Research
(Outline explanation, also given in Module 1)

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a. Descriptive Research:
1. The objective of the descriptive research is to
get the answers for Who, What, When, Where
and How of the subject under investigation.
2. Descriptive Research is undertaken, when the
researcher desires to know the characteristics
of certain group, such as Age, Sex, Occupation,
Income or Education.

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a. Descriptive Research:
3. Majority of Research studeis are based on Descriptive
Research.
4. Descriptive Research deals directly with the people in
the market hence extreme caution has to be exercised
in developing this study,
5. Descriptive Research requires sufficient knowledge
on the nature and type of statistical technique to be
used.

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a. Descriptive Research Uses:
1. To describe the characteristics of people, group,
2. To estimate the %age of units in a specified
population exhibiting a certain behavior,
3. To collect the demographic informations of the users,
4. To discover the relationship between the variables
(Ex: Rural, Semi-Urban and Urban Population),

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a. Descriptive Research Uses:
5. To determine the degree to which the marketing
variables are associated,
6. To determine the perception (Choice Criteria) of
product characteristics,

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a. Descriptive Research is classified into 2
namely,
1. Longitudinal Research and
2. Cross Sectional Research
(Already discussed in Module 1 –
Longitudinal and One time Research)

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b. Causal Research:
1. Causal Research is designed to investigate the
cause and effect relationship between two or
more variables.
2. Causal Research is also known as
'Independent-Interdependent Relationship or
Predictive Relationship.

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3. Experimental Research Design:
Experimental Research studies generally require
testing of hypothesis for causal relationship
amongst the variables.
It is based on Principles or Statistical Procedures.
Basic Principles of Experimental Research
Design include,

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3. Experimental Research Design PRINCIPLES:
a. Principle of replication: This is the Principle of
Repeating the same experiment more than onces to
arrive at accuracy.
In this the researcher repeats the same experiment
again and again to arrive at an exact conclusion.

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3. Experimental Research Design PRINCIPLES:
b. Principle of Randomization:
This is the Principle that provides researcher protection
against the effect of extraneous factors,(Variables,
which have no much effect in research) when he
undertakes any experiment.

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3. Types of Experimental Research Design:
There are two types of Experimental Research
Design:
a. Formal Experimental Research Design and
b. Informal Experimental Research Design.

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a. Formal Experimental Research Design:
i) Completely Randomized Design,
ii) Randomized Block Design,
iii) Latin Square Design, and
iv) Factorial Design

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i) Completely Randomized Design:
This is based on Principle of Replication and Principle of randomization (Shall vary from
experiment to experiment on repeatation and randomization).
The easiest possible experimental design, and procedure of analysis is also simple.
The basic characteristics is that the subjects are randomly assigned to experimental
treatments.
The analysis can be One way analysis of variance and completely randomized
design.

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If we have 8 patients, and need to provide Treatment A and
Treatment B, and if the patients are randomly selected for
Treatment A and Treatment B, then such analysis
procedure required design is called 'ONE WAY
ANALYSIS VARIANCE'. Such design is possible when the
experimental areas are homogeneous.

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When all possible variation due to uncontrollable
experimental factors is included under chance variation,
then such design is known as 'COMPLETELY
RANDOMIZED DESIGN'.

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ii) Randomized Block Design: The term
'Randomized Block', is emanated (Emanate
means the strong sense, derived from) from
Agronomics Research (Agri-Economics, study
of growing and harvesting of crops),

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ii) Randomized Block Design: In Randomized Block
Design, several variables or treatments are applied for
different blocks of land to study the effects of replication
(Replication means Repeating the same) on experimental
effort, such as yield of different types of sugarcane by using
effect variables like WATER, but also fertility of SOIL is
considered Hence different blocks are randomly selected
for treatment.
Similar to Agriculture, now the same is practically applied on
determining the output from various machines.

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iii) Latin Square Design:
This design too is emanated from Agronomic
Experimentation and is extensively used where
there is a need to ELIMINATE the trend of soil
fertility in two directions, that is the Rows and
Columns.

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iii) Latin Square Design:
One major draw back in this design is that the
treatments must be equal in both rows and
columns, also when the treatment is more than
7, latin square design is hardly utilized, as it is
slightly compex than an analysis for
Randomized Block Design.

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iv) Factorial Design:
"Factorial Design is the design where it allows the researcher
to evaluate the combination effect of two or more
variables, when used simultaneously".
Factorial Design is more common in recent times with a view
to improve rational foundation of scientific experimentation.

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b. Informal Experimental Research Design:
i) Before and Without Control Design,
ii) After and Only with Control Design,
iii) Before and After with Control Design.

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i) Before and Without Control Design,:
This Design is a design, where 'a set of Single Test
Group is selected', and Dependent variable is
measured prior to a Specific Treatment'. Subsequently
Treatment is introduced and dependable variables are
again measured.
Example: 'To check bacteria in a swimming pool, before
and after Chlorination Treatment'.

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ii) After and Only with Control Design,:
In this design, Two areas are selected – Test Area and Control Area,
where Treatment is applied only to the Test Area, but 'Dependable
Variable is measured in both the areas at the same time', leading to
eliminate the Extrageneous Variations. The impact of this treatment is
assessed by substracting the value of dependable variable in the
control area from the value obtained in the test areas.
Example: Two fields of same size, is used where one with the use of
fertilizer and other without fertilizer and measure the output. Common
extraneous variables like Rain, Water Supply and Climate is common
to both.

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iii) Before and After with Control Design.: This design is the
combination of the first and second design.
2 Areas are selected and dependable variables are measured
before the Treatment. Treatment is applied only in the test area
and the dependable variables are again measured in both the
test and control areas, after introduction of the treatment.
This design is superior to the first 2 design as it avoids the
extrageneous variations and also the variations of non-
comparability of the test area and control area.

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Types of Experimental Research Designs
include:
1. Pre-Experimental Research Design,
2. Quasi Experimental Design,
3. True Experimental Design,
4. Statistical Experimental Design.

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1. Types of Pre-Experimental Research Designs:
a. One-shot - Case Study Design,
b. One-Group – Pre-Test and Post-Test Design,
c. Static-Group Comparison

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3. Pre-Experimental Research Design: Types of Pre-
Experimental Research Designs:
a. One-shot - Case Study Design,:
In this Case Study Design we include the following:
i) One single Group is considered,
ii) Studied at a single point of time (Specific time),
iii) Presumed some treatment can CAUSE change,
iv) No group or Comparison is employed.

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b. One-Group – Pre-Test and Post-Test Design,:
In this design it includes the following:
i) No control or Comparison is employed,
ii) Treatment is conducted before and after,
iii) And results is presumed, due to treatment.

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c. Static-Group Comparison,:
Static Group includes,
i) There are 2 groups,
ii) One Group is given treatment, while other isn't,
iii) Compare both,
iv) Differences is presumed to be the result of the treatment.

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Experimental Research Design:
2. Quasi Experimental Design: (Quasi is used to
form, that is described something as being in many ways
like something else, without actually being that thing)
i) Extensively used in social science and psychology,
ii) Unscientific and Unreliable, but useful method to measure
social variables,
iii) There is no validity of the data,
iv) It resembles quantitative and qualitative experiments, but
Lacks Group Allocation and Control.

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3. True Experimental Design : True Experimental
Design has the following features:
i) This research is designed statistically (in numbers)
ii) This research tries to prove or disprove a hypothesis
mathematically,
iii) This research has little or no arguments on its
results.,

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3. True Experimental Design :
i) In True Experimental Design the sample is selected randomly.,
ii) There must be a viable control group (A group which is capable
to serve the purpose of the researcher).,
iii) Only one group is manipulated (Viable Group).

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4. Statistical Experimental Design:
i) Statistical Experimental Design is designed on
statistical figures,
ii) The researcher may or may not have control
on the vaibles present, but it has control as its
experiments are concerned with statistical
informations gathered for the research.

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Other Research Designs:
Observational Research: Observational
Research is a field work where the reseacher
studies the on-going behaviour, and identifies
the strengths and weakness.
Observational Research can be Participative
Observational Study or Non-Participative
Study.

81
Finished Module 2
(80 Slides)

Research Methods Module Explains Key Concepts

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