There are two main functions of a research design: 1) To conceptualize an operational plan to undertake various procedures and tasks required to complete a study; and 2) To ensure these procedures are adequate to obtain valid, objective and accurate answers to research questions. Some common types of research design include action research, cohort design, cross-sectional design, descriptive design, exploratory design, longitudinal design, observational design, philosophical design, historical research design, case and field research design, descriptive or survey research design, correlation or prospective research design, and causal comparative or ex post facto research design. Each design has distinct purposes and approaches for collecting and analyzing data related to the research problem.

1. Topic: Research
Design
Discussants: Rona Jane E. Gallardo
Mary Anne B. Barberan
General Education I-C
Research Design
is a procedural plan that is adopted by the researcher to answer questions validly, objectively,
accurately and economically.
It is the arrangement of conditions for collection and analysis of data a manner that aims to
combine relevance to the research purpose with economy.
The Functions of a Research Design
There are TWO main functions of a Research Design:
I.
II.
The first relates to the identification and or development of procedures and logistical
arrangements required to undertake a study.
The second emphasizes the importance of quality in these procedures to ensure their validity,
objectivity, and accuracy. Hence , through a research design you:
Conceptualize an operational plan to undertake the various procedures and tasks required to
complete your study.
Ensure that these procedures are adequate to obtain valid, objective and accurate answers to
the research questions. Kerlinger calls this function the “control of variance”.
Types of Research Design
Action Research Design
is a research initiated to solve an immediate problem or a reflective process of
progressive problem solving led by individuals working with others in teams or as part of a "community
of practice" to improve the way they address issues and solve problems.
types of action research: participatory action research, and practical action research.
involves the process of actively participating in an organization change situation whilst conducting
research
can also be undertaken by larger organizations or institutions, assisted or guided by
professional researchers, with the aim of improving their strategies, practices and knowledge of the
environments within which they practice
Cohort Design
Often used in the medical sciences, but also found in the applied social sciences, a cohort study
generally refers to a study conducted over a period of time involving members of a population which the
subject or representative member comes from, and who are united by some commonality or similarity
Cross-Sectional Design
can only measure diffrerences between or from among a variety of people, subjects, or
phenomena rather than change
Descriptive Design
provide answers to the questions of who, what, when, where, and how associated with a
particular research problem; a descriptive study cannot conclusively ascertain answers to why.
is used to obtain information concerning the current status of the phenomena and to describe
"what exists" with respect to variables or conditions in a situation.
Exploratory Design
is conducted about a research problem when there are few or no earlier studies to refer to
Longitudinal Design

2. describe patterns of change and help establish the direction and magnitude of causal
relationships
Observational Design
draws a conclusion by comparing subjects against a control group, in cases where the
researcher has no control over the experiment
Philosophical Design
Understood more as an broad approach to examining a research problem than a methodological
design, philosophical analysis and argumentation is intended to challenge deeply embedded, often
intractable, assumptions underpinning an area of study.
uses the tools of argumentation derived from philosophical traditions, concepts, models, and
theories to critically explore and challenge
Historical Research Design
The purpose is to collect, verify, synthesize evidence to establish facts that defend or refute
your hypothesis. It uses primary sources, secondary sources, and lots of qualitative data sources such as
logs, diaries, official records, reports, etc. The limitation is that the sources must be both authentic and
valid.
Case and Field Research Design
Also called ethnographic research, it uses direct observation to give a complete snapshot of a
case that is being studied. It is useful when not much is known about a phenomenon. Used in few
subjects.
Descriptive or Survey Research Design
It attempts to describe and explain conditions of the present by using many subjects and
questionnaires to fully describe a phenomenon. Survey research design /survey methodology is one of the
most popular for dissertation research. There are many advantages.
Correlation or Prospective Research Design
It attempts to explore relationships to make predictions. It uses one set of subjects with two or
more variables for each.
Causal Comparative or Ex Post Facto Research Design
This research design attempts to explore cause and affect relationships where causes already
exist and cannot be manipulated. It uses what already exists and looks backward to explain why.