Research Methodology Steps to follow 06.08.2024.pptx

Critical topics under Research Methodology

1. RESEARCH DESIGN PLAN 1 RESEARCH DESIGN AND HYPOTHESIS FRAMING 1 T he definition of research design is a plan aimed at answering a specific research question. This research design definition concerns proper  research data management  and brings together several components, strategies, and methods to collect data and analyze it. However, Bliesmer (1970) has said that designing research may fail to account for flexibility and the duration of the research. A research design also called a research strategy, is a plan to answer a set of questions ( McCombes , 2019). It is a framework that includes the methods and procedures to collect, analyze, and interpret data. It describes how the researcher will investigate the central problem of the research and is, thus part of the  research proposal .

2. OVERVIEW OF RESEARCH DESIGN 1 RESEARCH DESIGN AND HYPOTHESIS FRAMING 2 The  characteristics of research design  influence the type of data to be gathered and, consequently, its results. Depending on the type, research design defines all other constituent parts of a study, such as variables, hypotheses, experiments, methodology, and statistical analysis (Creswell et al., 2018). Research design vs. research methodology - Many people confuse research design and methodology. The difference is that while the former is an outline of how to approach the problem, the latter states how to implement the design. Both are crucial in building a thesis statement. 

3. GOALS OF RESEARCH DESIGN 1 RESEARCH DESIGN AND HYPOTHESIS FRAMING 3 Excellent research design has one purpose: to make the data address the research problem as clearly, as accurately, and as unbiased as possible. Arriving at the results means successfully specifying the type of results to test a theory or evaluate or describe a phenomenon. Without doing this beforehand, interpreting data will appear weak and flimsy and will likely not address the problem the researcher has set out to answer. In any research work, design is rudimentary since everything eventually emanates from the selected design, and since this selection is the most closely related to the scholar’s theories and research questions (Vogt et al., 2012). With the right choice, research design has fulfilled its purpose when the conclusion is seen to have a minimum bias. A research design that produces the least margin of error is one of its goals.

4. SOUND RESEARCH DESIGN 1 RESEARCH DESIGN AND HYPOTHESIS FRAMING 4 Identify the problem. Justify why it is a problem. Review literature surrounding the problem. Specify hypotheses regarding the problem. Describe the data to test the hypotheses and how it will be collected. Define how this data will be interpreted and analyzed to find out if the hypotheses are true or false.

5. CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD RESEARCH DESIGN 1 RESEARCH DESIGN AND HYPOTHESIS FRAMING 5 Analogous to Building construction knowing the type and the characteristics of the research goes first naturally, before even beginning to pose the hypotheses and the methods used to collect data that, in turn, can support or abrogate the hypotheses. The determination you make during the framing of the research design process will significantly dictate the value of the conclusions you can derive from your study outcomes ( Bordens & Abbott, 2018). As such, ensure that your selected research design is highly appropriate because with the right choice comes the relevant results.

6. PARTS OF A GOOD RESEARCH DESIGN 1 RESEARCH DESIGN AND HYPOTHESIS FRAMING 6 Purpose statement (the central research problem) Data collection and analysis Statistical method to analyze data Settings for the study Timeline Probable objections Validating the data

7. WHAT MAKES A GOOD DESIGN? 1 RESEARCH DESIGN AND HYPOTHESIS FRAMING 7 It is neutral. Naturally, setting up a study comes with a measure of assumptions, which is why there is a hypothesis. However, good research design comes into play when the results obtained are as neutral and as objective as possible. It should allow the researcher to analyze and interpret the data that is free of any bias. It is valid. The design of the research also indicates the tools and techniques by which to measure results. If the design is sound, these tools will be correct and appropriate for the job, which will be defined as those that can help a researcher in measuring the results. It is reliable. Research design, when done well, can afford research that generates similar results every time it is performed. This means that a good research design creates an opportunity to form standards to collect and analyze results. It can be generalized. Generalized design means the design can apply not just to one part of a study, population, or setting. It should be able to cover any part with the same measure of accuracy. It is reproducible. Research is reproducible when others can reproduce the results of a scientific study given the original data, code, and documentation

8. TYPES OF RESEARCH METHODS 1 RESEARCH DESIGN AND HYPOTHESIS FRAMING 8 Experiments Surveys Interviews Questionnaires Case studies Observational trials (using longitudinal and retrospective approaches) Delphi method in which panelists share, through several rounds, assessments of salient issues in order to forecast a hypothesis, especially in areas where knowledge is uncertain and imperfect ( Aichholzer , 2009). Note that the research does not have to be pigeonholed into one particular type of method. Depending on the resources and the research design, the research team can combine several types of methods to find the data they need. In addition, the data generated from one method will be markedly different from that of another, both in quality and quantity.

9. RESEARCH DESIGN TYPES 1 RESEARCH DESIGN AND HYPOTHESIS FRAMING 9 The type of research design is one of the biggest contributors to the quality, relevance, and accuracy of a result. Therefore, before setting out to outline a proposal, it is always a good idea to distinguish the type of research by including it in the research design. There are a few ways to approach a research design type, but literature has not always been clear-cut on these types ( Abutabenjeh , 2018). In fact, existing publications have made it even impossible to distinguish between types, methods, and approaches, with some older references talking about fixed and flexible designs (Bouma, 1994). Descriptive Research Experimental Research Correlational Research Explanatory Research

10. DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH 1 RESEARCH DESIGN AND HYPOTHESIS FRAMING 10 In studies where the researcher is interested in describing a case, situation, or phenomenon, they are acting under a descriptive research design. As a theory-based design, it is interested in answering the how, what, when, and where questions, instead of the why. Descriptive research directs the researcher to understand the research problem before investigating why it even happens in the first place. Descriptive design furnishes the researcher with an opportunity to gain insight into the problem itself. It also helps the research team to see the need for the research. If it is not as clear or as necessary, exploratory research (which, according to Blaikie (2000), is considered as the first phase of research) may be needed. Descriptive research attempts to build on the groundwork made by exploration, such as providing additional information, filling in gaps in knowledge, or expanding it. Unique to descriptive research is that it also aims to collect as much data and information as possible .