A plan, structure & strategy of investigation conceived so as to obtain answers to research question & to control variance

-Kerlinger

It

is

blue-print

for

the

collection,

measurement and analysis of data

-Bernard Philips

Blueprint

Plan
Guide Framework

Category The degree to which the research question has been crystallized

Options Exploratory study Formal study

The method of data collection

Monitoring Communication Study

Experimental Ex post facto Descriptive Causal Cross-sectional Longitudinal Case Statistical study

The power of the researcher to produce effects in the variables under study The purpose of the study The time dimension The topical scopebreadth and depthof the study

The research environment

Field setting Laboratory research

Exploratory Study Loose structure Expand understanding Provide insight Develop hypotheses

Formal Study Precise procedures Begins with hypotheses Answers research questions

Monitoring The researcher inspects the activities He/she notes or records the information available from observations

Communication study The responses are collected by personal or impersonal means Telephone, E-mail, face to face

Experiment Study involving the manipulation or control of one or more variables to determine the effect on another variable

Ex Post Facto study After-the-fact report on what happened to the measured variable

Cross sectional study

Carried out once and represent a snapshot of one point in time

Study of public awareness of an advertising campaign over a six month period would require different samples for each measurement

Longitudinal study

Repeated over an extended period Can track changes over time

Statistical Study

Case Study

Breadth Population inferences Quantitative Generalizable findings

Depth Detail Qualitative Multiple sources of information

It is used when researchers lack clear idea of the problems they will meet during the study Through exploration researchers develop concepts more clearly, establish priorities, develop operational definitions and improve final research design The area or investigation may be so new or so vague that a researcher needs to do exploration just to learn something about the dilemma facing the manager

QUANTITATIVE DATA

QUALITATIVE DATA

Secondary data analysis

Experience surveys Focus Groups Two Stage Designs

Data collected for a purpose other than the project at hand Published documents prepared by outside the sponsor organization Economical Quick source for background information

Ask knowledgeable individuals about a particular research problem

most are quite willing

If you wish to know the road up the mountain, you must ask the man who goes back and forth on it. - Zenrinkusi

What is being done? What has been tried in the past without success? With success? How have things changed? What are the change-producing elements of the situation? Who is involved in a decision and what role does each person play? What problem areas and barriers can be seen? What are the costs of the processes under study? Whom can we count on to assist and/or participate in the research? What are the priority areas?

A focus group is a group of people (6 to 10 participants) , led by a trained moderator, who meet for 90 minutes to 2 hours The participants exchange ideas, feelings and experiences on a specific topic It may be conducted for a new product , a new employee motivation program, or improved production-line organization

1) Clearly defining the research question 2) developing the research design

Who?

How much?

What?

When?

Where?

Research that describes Describes characteristics of a population or phenomenon Some understanding of the nature of the problem Deals with the who, what, where, when, howbut not the why?

Research that looks at cause & effect

Conducted to identify cause and effect relationships

Symmetrical Reciprocal

Asymmetrical

Stimulus-Response

PropertyBehavior

PropertyDisposition

Disposition-Behavior

Asymmetrical Causal relationships

Relationship Type Stimulus-response Nature of Relationship An event or change results in a response from some object. Examples A change in work rules leads to a higher level of worker output. A change in government economic policy restricts corporate financial decisions. A price increase results in fewer unit sales. Age and attitudes about saving. Gender attitudes toward social issues. Social class and opinions about taxation. Opinions about a brand and its purchase. Job satisfaction and work output. Moral values and tax cheating. Stage of the family life cycle and purchases of furniture. Social class and family savings patterns.

Property-disposition

An existing property causes a disposition.

Disposition-behavior

A disposition causes a specific behavior.

Property-behavior

An existing property causes a specific behavior.

Co variation between A and B

Time order of events

No other possible causes of B

THANK YOU