UNIT – IV

RESEARCH APPROACHES
AND DESIGN (PART-1)

Mrs. S. Andal, M.Sc(N).,

Professor cum Research Co-ordinator
Faculty of Nursing
 INTRODUCTION

• A Research design is the framework or

guide used for the planning, implementation
and analysis of a study. It is a systematic
plan of what is to be done, how it will be
done and how the data will be analyzed.
 DEFINITION
“Research design is the master plan
specifying the methods and
procedures for collecting and
analyzing the needed information in
a research study”.
 CONT..

“Research design is a plan of how, when

and where data are to be collected and
analyzed”.
 CONT…

“Research design is the researcher’s

overall plan for answering the research
questions or testing the research
hypothesis”.
ELEMENTS OF RESEARCH DESIGN
• Research design is also known as a blueprint that
researchers select to carry out their research study,
sometimes research design is used interchangeably with
the term methodology. Research design includes major
elements like.
1. The Approach
2. The Population, Sample and Sampling Technique
3. The Time, Place and Sources of Data collection:
4. Tools and methods of data collection
5. Methods of data analysis
• The Approach:
It involves the description of the plan to
investigate the phenomenon under study in a
structured, unstructured or a combination of
two methods. Therefore the approach helps to
decide about the presence or absence as well
as manipulation and control over variables.
• The Population, Sample and Sampling
Technique:
It also provides the researcher with directions
about population, sample and sampling
technique which will be used for research
study.
• The Time, Place and Sources of Data
collection:
The Time, Place and Sources of the requisite
data are the other important constituents
essential to ensure effective planning to
conduct research study.
• Tools and methods of data collection:
This element of research design involves the
description of different tools and methods of
data collection.
• Methods of data analysis:
A research design must also include the
description of the methods of data analysis
either quantitative or qualitative techniques
that helps the researcher to collect the relevant
data, which later can be analyze as per
research design plan.
Factors Affecting Selection of
Research Design
• Nature of Research Problem:
Researcher decides whether it should be investigated
through an experimental, Non Experimental or Quasi
experimental approach.
• Purpose of study:
Study may be conducted for the purpose of the
prediction, description, exploration or correlation of
research variable.
• Researcher Knowledge and Experience:
Selection of research design is largely influenced
by researcher knowledge and experience, because
they avoid using those designs wherein they lack
confidence, relevant knowledge or experience.
• Researcher Interest and Motivation:
Motivated researcher always analyze most aspects
of research design before selecting one or a
combination of designs.
• Researcher’s Ethics and Principles:
Incorporation of ethics and principles in research
design is essential. This includes moral obligations
such as respect for participants and their rights.
• Subjects/ Participants:
The number and availability of study subjects may
influence the selection of research design if only few
subjects are involved, an in-depth qualitative
research design may be choose, but in case of large
samples the researcher may opt for quantitative
research design.
• Resources:
None of the researcher can be conduct without
resources such as money, equipments, facilities
and support from colleagues.
• Time:
Time is also a major deciding factor for the
selection of research design.
• Possible Control of Extraneous Variables:
An efficient design can maximize results decrease
errors and control preexisting and impaired
conditions that may affect the outcome of the
study.
• Users of the Study Finding:
A research design also involves various methods
data collection and analysis. Therefore while
choosing a research design researcher must ensure
that research design is as appropriate for the users
of the study findings.
 TYPES OF RESEARCH
DESIGN.
• Research designs are classified into two broad
categories and several subtypes
EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH
DESIGN
 EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH
DESIGN
• They are concerned with examination of
the effect of independent variable on the
dependent variable, where the independent
variable is manipulated through treatment or
interventions and the effect of these
interventions is observed on dependent
variable.
 True Experimental Design
• They are those where researchers have
complete control over the extraneous
variables and can predict confidently that the
observed effect on the dependable variable is
only due to the manipulation of the
independent variable.
Essential Characteristics
A True Experimental research design must
essentially consists of following three
characteristics
Manipulation,
Control and
Randomization.
Manipulation:
• It refers to conscious control of the
independent variable by the researcher through
treatment or interventions to observe its effect
on dependent variable.
Control:
• It refers to the use of control group and
controlling the effects of extraneous variables
on the dependent variable in which researcher
is interested.
Randomization:
• It means that every subject has an equal
chance of being assigned to experimental or
control group this is also known as random
assignments of subjects which involves the
placement of study subjects on the random
basis. Through random assignments of subjects
under experimental or control group, chances
of systemic bias is eliminated.
Types of True Experimental Design
1.Post Test only design
Composed of two randomly assigned groups (i.e)
experimental and control group, but neither of which is
pretested before implementation of treatment on the
experimental group. In addition while treatment is
implemented on experimental group only, post test
observation is carried out on both the groups to assess
the effect of manipulation.
2.Pretest – Posttest only Design
In this subjects are assigned to control and experimental
group. The effect of the dependent variable on both the
groups is seen before the treatment and later the
treatment is carried out on experimental group only and
after treatment observation of dependent variables is
made on both the groups to examine the effect of the
manipulation of independent variable on the dependent
variable.
3.Solomon Four Group Design
There are two Experimental Groups (E1 & E2) and
two Control Groups (C1 & C2). Initially the
researcher randomly assigns subjects to the four
groups. Out of four groups only E1 and C1 receives
pretest followed by the treatment to E1 and E2.
Finally all the four groups receive posttest, where
the effects of the dependent variable of the study
are observed and comparison is made of four
groups to assess the effect of the independent
variable on the dependent variable.
Cont…
4.Factorial Design
In this researcher manipulates two or more
independent variables simultaneously to
observe the effects on the dependent variables.
This design is useful when there are more than
two independent variables.
5.Randomized Block Design
Control of inherent differences between
experimental subjects and differences in
experimental conditions is one of the difficult
problems faced by researcher in biological sciences.
6.Cross over Design
Subjects are exposed to more than one treatment
where subjects are randomly assigned to different
orders of treatment. This design is more efficient in
establishing the highest possible similarity among
subjects exposed to different conditions. Where
groups compared obviously have equal distribution
of characteristics.
 Advantages
• To establish casual relationship between independent and
dependent variables
• The controlled environment in which the study is conducted
can yield a greater degree of purity in observation.
• Conditions not found in natural settings can be created in an
experimental setting where the independent variable is
manipulated by investigator.
• In this approach, we can often create conditions in a short
period of time that may take years naturally.
• When experiment is conducted in laboratory, the pressure and
problems of real life situations are removed and the researcher can
pursue the studies in a more leisurely careful and concentrated
way.
 Disadvantages
• The results of experimental designs cannot be replicated
in studies conducted on human beings due to ethical
problems.
• Many of the human variables neither have valid
measurable criteria nor instruments to measure them.
• If experimental studies conducted in natural settings like
hospitals or community, it is not possible to impose control
over extraneous variables.
• It is difficult to get cooperation from the study
participants because it may involve medical or surgical
treatment or intervention which may make the prospective
subjects reluctant to participate in research study.
 QUASI EXPERIMENTAL
RESEARCH DESIGN
It involves the manipulation of independent
variable to observe the effect on dependent
variable, but it lacks at least one of the two
characteristics of the true experimental design
randomization or control.
Characteristics:
• Manipulation of the independent variables to
observe the effects on the dependent variables.
• Lack at least one of the two other essential
characteristics of the true experimental design
• Quasi-independent variable are used instead
of true independent variables.
TYPES OF QUASI EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
1.Non Randomized Control Group Design
• In this design experimental and control
group are selected without randomization and
dependent variables are observed in both
groups before intervention, later the experiment
group alone receives treatment and after that
posttest observation of dependent variables is
carried out for both the groups to assess the
effect of treatment on experiment group.
Cont…
2.Time Series Design
• This design is useful when the experimenter
wants to measure the effects of a treatment over a
long period of time. The researcher carries out an
experiment on an individual or on a small number
of individuals by alternating between administering
and then withdrawing the treatment to determine
the effectiveness of the intervention.
Advantages
• They are more frequently used because they
are more practical and feasible to conduct
research studies in nursing.
• This design is more suitable for real world
natural settings than true experimental research
designs.
• It may be able to establish casual relationship
and where in some of the hypotheses are
practically answered through this design only.
Disadvantages:
• There is no control over extraneous
variables influencing the dependent variables.
• The absence of control group makes the
results of this design less reliable and weak for
the establishment of casual relationship
between dependent and independent variable.
Pre Experimental Research Design
This research design considered very weak
because the researcher has very little control
over the experiment.
 TYPES OF PRE EXPERIMENTAL
RESEARCH DESIGN
1. One shot case design :
In this design, a single experimental group is
exposed to a treatment and observations are
made after the implementation of that treatment
2. One group pre-test and post-test design:
It is a simplest type of pre experimental design,
where only the experimental group is selected as
the study subjects. A pretest observation of the
dependent variables is made before
implementation of the treatment to the selected
group, the treatment is administered and finally a
post observation of dependent variables is carried
out to assess the effect of treatment on the group.
Advantages :
• Very simple and convenient to conduct
these studies in natural setting especially in
nursing.
• Most suitable design for the beginners in
the field of experimental research.
Disadvantages :
• It has very little control over the research.
• Considered a very weak experimental
design to establish casual relationship between
independent and dependent variables, because
it controls no threat to internal validity.
NON-EXPERIMENTAL
RESEARCH DESIGN
 NON EXPERIMENTAL
RESEARCH DESIGN
• It is one of the broad categories of research
designs in which the researcher observes the
phenomena as they occur naturally and no
external variables are introduced.
• In this non experimental research, Researcher
collects data without making changes or
introducing treatments. Data obtained are
analyzed and the results may lead to the formation
of hypothesis that can be tested experimentally.
Needs:
• Independent variable cannot be manipulated
• The studies where it is not practically possible
to conduct experiment
• Descriptive study that do not require any
experimental approaches.
TYPES OF NON-EXPERIMENTAL
RESEARCH DESIGN
Descriptive Research Design
• The purpose of descriptive design is to
describe and document aspects of a situation as
it naturally occurs and sometimes to serve as a
starting point for hypotheses generation or
theory development.
Main features
• They are used to observe, document and describe
a phenomenon occurring in its natural setting without
any manipulation or control.
• They provide an impression of a situation as it
occurs in natural settings.
• They do not involve the manipulation of variables
and they are studied as they exist in the real world.
• They may be used to develop theories, identify
problem with current practices, justify current
practices or determine other practices in similar
situations.
TYPES OF DESCRIPTIVE DESIGN
1.Univariant Descriptive Design
They are undertaken to describe the frequency of
occurrence of a phenomenon. This design does not
necessarily focus on the study of a single variable.
They are may be one or more variables involved in
the study.
• Ex: A researcher is interested in assessing the
experiences of patients suffering from Rheumatoid
arthritis. In this study researcher may describe the
frequency of different symptoms experienced by the
patient and the type of they received during the
course of disease.
2.Exploratory Research Design
• It is used to identify, explore and describe the
existing phenomenon and its related factors. It is not
only a simple description or the frequency of
occurrence of a phenomenon but is in depth
exploration and a study of its related factors to
improve further understanding about a less
understood behavior.
• Ex: an exploratory study to assess the multi-factorial
dimensions of falls and home safety measures for
elderly people living in selected communities.
3.Comparative Design
• It involves comparing and contrasting two
or more samples of study subjects on one or
more variables, often at a single point of time.
• This design is used to compare two distinct
groups on the basis of selected attributes such
as knowledge level, perceptions and attitudes.
 Correlational Research
• This is Non-Experimental Research design,
where researcher examines the relationship
between two or more variables in a natural
setting without manipulation or control.
• In this researchers study the relationship of
two or more variables without any
intervention.
Main Features:
• The researcher examines the strength of relationship
between variables by determining how change is
correlated with changes in the other variables.
• Generally they have independent and dependent
variables, but the effect of independent variable is
observed on dependent variable without manipulating
the independent variable
• Magnitude and direction of relationship of
independent and dependent variable is measured by
using the correlation coefficient statistical measure,
where results range between -1 to +1
• -ve results shows negative correlation
• +ve results shows positive correlation
• Zero results shows no correlation
• Theoretically a positive relationship means
increase in one variable leads to increase of the other
variable. While negative relationship means increase
in one variable leads to decrease of the other variable
or vice versa.
TYPES OF CORRELATIONAL DESIGN
1. Prospective Research Design:
• A design in which the researcher relates the
present to the future is a prospective research
design. In this researcher observes phenomena
from cause to effect.
2. Retrospective Research Design:
• In this researcher studies current phenomenon by
seeking information from past. In other words
researcher has a backward approach, in other
words the researcher has a backward approach
where he or she move from effect to identify
cause.
Developmental Research Design

• They are generally used as adjuvant

research designs with other research designs
such as cross sectional, descriptive,
longitudinal, correlational research design.
• This design examines the phenomenon
with reference to time.
TYPES OF DEVELOPMENTAL
RESEARCH DESIGN
1. Cross sectional Design:
• Is one in which researcher collects data at a
particular point of time.
2. Longitudinal Design:
• It is used to collect data over an extended
period of time. Its value is in its ability to
demonstrate change over a period of time.
• These are generally classified into three types
they are trend studies, panel studies and follow
up studies.
Trend Studies
• They permit researchers to examine pattern and the rate of
changes and to make prediction about future direction based
on previously identified patterns and rates of changes.
Panel Studies
• In this, some people are involved and over a period of
time they become more informative on the phenomenon that
the subjects in trend studies because the researcher cannot only
examine the pattern of change and also reasons for change.
Follow up Studies
• These are undertaken to determine the subsequent states
of subjects with a specified condition or those who have
received a specific intervention.
Epidemiological Research Design
• It is a study to investigate the distribution
and causes of the disease in population.
• Epidemiological studies are generally
conducted to investigate causes of different
diseases in either prospective researches or
retrospective researches.
 TYPES

Cohort Studies
• A longitudinal approach is used to investigate the
occurrence of a disease in existing presumed causes.
Case Control Studies
• In this design, cause of a disease are investigated
after the occurrence of disease
SURVEY RESEARCH DESIGN

• A survey is a research design which is used

to collect information from different subjects
within a given population having same
characteristics of interest.
Main features:
• It is the process of gathering current required data
from the subjects so that new information can be
obtained.
• In survey research information is collected from a
mix of subjects who represent the total population in
the characteristics being studied
• It relies heavily upon the validity of verbal
reports.
• Personal interview are regarded as the most
useful method of collecting survey data, because of
the quality of information that can be obtained.
TYPES
1. Depending on the nature of phenomenon
under study
Descriptive:
• Undertaken to describe the frequency of occurrence of a
phenomenon rather than to study relationship
Exploratory:
• It is a survey of a phenomenon and its related factors about
which much is not known
Comparative:
• Comparing and contrasting the existence of a certain
phenomenon in two or more groups is done by comparative study
Correlational:
• It is a study of relationship between two or more variables in
a natural settings without manipulation or control.
2. Based on methods of data collection:
Written survey
• In this data are collected with a help of written,
structured tools such as questionnaire
Oral Survey
• In this data is collected by using face to face or
telephonic conversation or oral interview with
respondents
Electronic survey
• When data is collected by using electronic means
such as email messages, web forms, SMS etc.
Advantages
• They tend to be closest to real life situation
• They are most useful to enhance our understanding
about the existing real world setting around us.
• Numerous human characteristics are not subject to
experimental manipulation. Therefore the effects of
these characteristics on other phenomena cannot be
studied experimentally.
• There are many situations in which it is simply not
practical to conduct a true experiment like shortage of
funds, lack of administrative approval, insufficient time
etc.
Disadvantages
• The results obtained and the relationship
between the dependent and independent
variables can never be absolutely clear and
error free.
• They are conducted for comparative
purpose using non randomly selected groups.
OTHER ADDITIONAL
RESEARCH DESIGNS
OTHER ADDITIONAL RESEARCH
DESIGNS
• There are some of the research designs,
which cannot be categorized under either
experimental or non-experimental research
designs.
1. METHODOLOGICAL STUDY
• Methodological studies are conducted to develop,
validate, test and evaluate the research
instruments and methods. The basic steps of
methodological study are
• Defining behavior or construct to measure
• Formulating the items for tool
• Developing instruments for users and respondents
• Testing the reliability and validity of research
tool.
 2. META-ANALYSIS
• Quantitatively combining and integrating the finding
of the multiple research studies on a particular topic is
known as meta-analysis.
• Meta analysis is considered as the statistical analysis
of a large amount of analyzed results from individual
studies for the purpose of integrating the finding.
• Meta analysis studies starts with selecting studies
with similar variables and population samples, followed
by identifying & coding study characteristics and finally
statistically Analyzing and reporting the assessed
findings of the meta analysis study.
Steps in conducting meta analysis:
• Define Hypothesis
• Locate the studies
• Input data
• Calculate effect sizes
• Analyse variables
3. SECONDARY DATA ANALYSIS
• It is a research design in which the data
collected by one researcher is re analyzed by
another researcher, usually to test new
hypothesis.
• Sometimes researchers collect lots of data
in a study, out of which some of the data is left
unused or unanalyzed that is taken up later and
utilized by another researcher.
 4.OUTCOME RESEARCH
It involves the evaluation of care practices and
systems in place. These studies are conducted in
response to the increasing demand from public to
justify care practices and system that improve
patient treatment outcome and reduces costs of care.
 5.EVALUATION STUDIES
• They are an applied form of research design, which
involves the judgement about how well a specific
programme, practice or policy is working.
• They may also be used to determine the
effectiveness or value of processes, personnel,
equipment and the material used in particular setting.
• Formative Evaluation: refers to assessment of a
programme as it is being implemented.
• Summative Evaluation: refers to assessment of the
outcome of the programme that is conducted after the
completion of the programme.
6.OPERATIONAL RESEARCH
• It involves study of complex human
organizations and services to develop new
knowledge about institutions, programme,
use of facilities and personnel in order to
improve working efficiency of an organization.
• It is the application of scientific method of
investigation to the study of complex human
organization and services.