Descriptors of Research Design
Descriptors of Research Design
Descriptors of Research Design
METHOD
Cross-sectional studies are carried out once and represent a snapshot of one point in time.
Longitudinal studies are carried over an extended period. The advantage of longitudinal study is that it can track
The topical scope refers to the breadth ( what properties will be measured) and depth( at what level will the
A statistical study is designed for breadth rather than depth. it attempts to capture a populations
characterized by making inferences from a samples characteristics and then testing resulting hypotheses.
A case study places more emphasis on full contextual analysis of a few events or conditions and their
interrelations.
While case studies are not considered “scientific,” they do play an important role in challenging theory,
Designs also differ as to whether they occur under actual environmental conditions.
Field condition means that the research occurs in the actual environmental conditions where the dependent
variable occurs.
Under laboratory conditions, the studies occur under conditions that do not stimulate actual environmental
conditions.
In a simulation, the study environment seeks to replicate the natural environment in a controlled situation. for
instance, a lab set up as a kitchen would serve as a simulation of a consumer’s own kitchen.
DATA COLLECTION METHOD
Monitoring includes studies in which the researcher inspects the activities of a subject or the nature of some
In communication study, the researcher questions the subjects and collects their responses by personal or
impersonal means.
3. Instruments presented before and/or after a treatment or stimulus condition in an experiment.
Research Control of Variables
Experiments are studies involving the manipulation of one or more variables to determine the effect on
another variable. For example, direct marketers can use split tests on mailings to test which mailing
Ex Post Facto designs are evaluations made after the fact based on measured variables. The investigators
have no control over the variables in the sense of being able to manipulate them. They can only report
To be convincing, inferences from experimental designs must meet two other requirements, in addition to those
covered on the last slide. The first is control. Control means that all factors but the IV are held constant and are
not confounded with another variable that is not part of the study. The second requirement is that each person
in the study must have an equal chance for exposure to each level of the independent variable. This is
Random assignment uses a randomized list of participant for assigning participants to experimental and control
groups. The Control group is the group of participants that is measured but not exposed to the independent
Matching is an equalizing process for assigning participants to experimental and control groups. In this case, we
ensure that all groups are essentially with respect to the variable of influence.
WHAT IS RESEARCH DESIGN
There are many definitions of research design. Research design is the blueprint for fulfilling research objectives
4. A framework for specifying the relationships among the study’s variables, and
The Degree to which the research question has been crystallized or structured is the first descriptor of research
Exploratory studies are used when the research question is still fluid or undetermined. The goal of
Formal studies are used when the research question is fully developed and there are hypotheses to be
examined.