Research MethodologyResearch MethodologyResearch Design

Research DesignResearch DesignResearch design is the

arrangement of conditions for collection and analysis of data in a manner that aims to combine relevance to research purpose with economy in procedure.

It is conceptual structure within which research is conducted.

It constitute the blueprint for the collection, measurement and analysis of data.

Research DesignResearch Design Kothari (2004) provide the following questions as

guidelines for a researcher in choosing a research design:

What is the study about? Why is the study being made? Where will the study be carried out? What type of data is required? Where can the required data be found? What periods of time will the study include? What will be the sample design? What techniques of data collection will be used? How will the data be analyzed? In What style will the report be prepared?

Research Design Research Design Research Design must contain:A clear statement of the research

problem including a plan that specifies the sources and types of information relevant to the research problem.

Procedures and techniques/ or strategy specifying the approach to be used for gathering data.

The population to be studied.Methods to be used in processing and

analyzing data.In choosing a research design, time and

costs budgets, should be considered.

Features of a good designFeatures of a good designA good design is related to the purpose

or objective of the research problem and the nature of the problem to be studied.

A good design should be appropriate, flexible, efficient and economical.

A good design is that which minimizes bias and maximize the reliability of the data collected and analyzed.

A good design is that which yields relevant and maximal information and at the same time provides an opportunity for considering many aspects of a problem.

Research Research Strategies/ApproachesStrategies/ApproachesResearch design is a plan or

strategy for conducting research.There are two main research

strategies/approaches: qualitative and quantitative strategies.

Within these, there are different research designs such as survey, case study, historical, experimental, ethnography etc which the researcher may choose from.

Research ParadigmsResearch ParadigmsAccording to Mugenda and Mugenda

(2003) defines a paradigm as a view about the world and the universe and comprises a disciplinary matrix of ideas, practices, and beliefs.

It legitimize certain ways of doing things.

Qualitative approach is based on naturalistic/interpretivist paradigm, while quantitative approach is based on the positivist paradigm.

Positivist ParadigmPositivist ParadigmBased on the assumption of a single, objective

reality which is can be fragmented further into various components that yield independent and dependent variables.

Variables are measurable using specific units such as interval, ratios, ordinal and nominal

Variables may be studied independently but reflecting inter-relationships

Gephart (1999) is of the view that positivism assumes an objective world which scientific methods can readily represent and measure, seeks and predict and explain causal relations among variables.

Interpretivist ParadigmInterpretivist ParadigmThis paradigm assumes that the purpose of social

science is to understand social meaning in context, and that humans are interacting social beings who create and reinforce shared meaning.

That we experience reality in different way and anybody can generate knowledge.

Based on perceived reality and that respondents have deep feelings/perceptions that should be investigated.

That knowledge and meaning are acts of interpretation.

Gephart (1999) lists the research methods used in interpretative approach as ethnography, observation, interviews etc.

Seeks to understand perceptions, feelings of respondents.

Qualitative Vs Quantitative Qualitative Vs Quantitative ApproachesApproachesQuantitative approaches in research

sometimes yield qualitative data depending on the type of questions asked.

Researcher may include open ended questions in descriptive research.

Similarly qualitative can yield quantitative data depending on the objective of the study and data collection procedures.

Qualitative ResearchQualitative ResearchProponents of qualitative research argue for

intangible realities, which can only be studied holistically.

These realities exist as constructions only in the minds of people and cannot be divided into parts that yield measurable characteristics.

That anybody is capable of constructing knowledge.Qualitative researchers believe that studying social

systems and problems should giving voice to those who are being studied to get their perceptions and insight.

Aim to gather an in-depth understanding of human behaviour and reasons

The qualitative method investigates the why and how of decision making and not just what, where, when. Hence

Uses smaller but focused samples rather than large ones

Qualitative ResearchQualitative ResearchFox and Bayat (2007) and Green (2005)

observe that qualitative research do not depend on numerical data.

Leedy and Omrod (2010:95) are of the view that qualitative process is more “holistic” and “emergent” with specific focus and interpretations developing and being modified during the process.

It does not operate within strict technical guidelines such as hypotheses that rigidly guide the scholar throughout the study.

Qualitative ResearchQualitative ResearchQualitative researchers remain open to the

unexpected and are willing to change the direction or focus on the research project, and may abandon original research questions in the middle of research.

Criteria foe selecting qualitative research include: perspective favoured by the researcher, expertise of the researcher, nature of research problem and the intended audience or respondents.

Neuman (2011) identifies the following qualitative methodologies: Biographical, case studies, enthnography, grounded theory, phenomenology and content analysis.

Quantitative ResearchQuantitative ResearchCreswell (in Leedy, 1997:104) defines

quantitative research as an enquiry into social or human problem based on testing a theory that is summarized or divided into variables, measured numerically, and analyzed using statistical procedures.

Research techniques used to gather quantitative data - information dealing with numbers and anything that is measurable.

Fox and Bayat (2007:7) observe that quantitative research is concerned with things that can be counted and that one of its' principal characteristics is the use of statistics to process and explain data and summarize findings.

Looking at the amounts or quantities of one or more variables of interest.

Quantitative ResearchQuantitative ResearchLeedy and Omrod (2010:94) explain that

quantitative researchers seek explanations and predictions that can generalize into other persons and places, the intent being to establish, confirm, or validate relationships and develop generalizations that contribute to existing theories.

Have carefully structured guidelines such as hypotheses that strictly guide the study throughout without changing direction.

These methods of measurement are defined before study begins.

Quantitative ResearchQuantitative ResearchQuantitative approach to research is

positivist and treat measurement as a distinct step in the research process.

They tend to rely mostly on deductive reasoning, beginning with certain premises or abstract ideas such as hypothesis, theories and drawing logical conclusions from them.

Quantitative research include: descriptive, survey methods (use of structured questionnaire).

Mix MethodMix MethodBoth qualitative and quantitative

research methodologies may be applied.

This method is referred to as mix method or triangulation.

Complement one another and enables researcher to view phenomenon from different angles depending on the nature of research problem.

CONT…CONT…There are two main research strategies:

qualitative and quantitative and within these there are several different research designs such as survey, experimental, historical, case study, ethnography etc. which the researcher will choose from.

1. SurveySurvey research involves inquiring information on

numerous subjects of research (large population). It is suitable for extensive research where part of

population is sampled to analyze and discover occurrences.

The findings may be generalized to a larger population.

CONT’ CONT’ Survey provides numeric descriptions of the

population. May use both qualitative and quantitative

techniques to collect data.Case studyUsed to investigate or study a single entity in-

depth in order to gain insight into larger cases.It is therefore intensive study, descriptive and

holistic in nature.Uses smaller samples for in-depth analysis.Case study seek for how and why answers and

describe rather than predict.

CONT’CONT’Case study method enables a researcher

to closely examine the data within a specific context.

In most cases, a case study method selects a small geographical area or a very limited number of individuals as the subjects of study.

Investigate contemporary real-life phenomenon through detailed contextual analysis of a limited number of events or conditions, and their relationships.

CONTCONTIn some case studies, an in-depth

longitudinal examination of a single case or event is used.

The longitudinal examination provides a systematic way of observing the events, collecting

Data, analyzing information, and reporting the results over a long period of time. For instance, studies on child language development can be conducted using this longitudinal

CONT’CONT’Case study is a unique way of

observing any natural phenomenon which exists in a set of data

By unique it is meant that only a very small geographical area or number of subjects of interest are examined in detail.

Design of Case StudyDesign of Case StudyCrafting the design of case studies is of

paramount importance. Researchers can adopt either a single-case or multiple-case design depending on the issue in question.

For instance, Management of records in Referral Hospitals in Kenya can be multiple- case study of Moi and Kenyatta.

Drawback of a single-case design is its inability to provide a generalizing conclusion especially in contextual findings.

Design of a case studyDesign of a case studyThe multiple-case design, on the

other hand, can be adopted with real-life events and findings may be replicated and generalized.

Choice of Case Study Choice of Case Study MethodMethodJustification that it is the only viable method

to elicit implicit and explicit data from the subjects.

It should be appropriate to the research problem, objectives/questions

Nature of respondents should be consideredSmall population or geographical areaRecorded and archived particularly when

interviews and direct observation by the researcher are the main sources of data

The case study should be linked to a theoretical framework.