Meaning, Definition and Need For Research Design
Meaning of Research Design
A
research design is a controlling plan for a research study in which the methods
and procedures for collecting and analyzing the information to be collected is
specified. It is a framework or plan for study that guides the collection and
analysis of data.
The
word ‘design’ means to work out the structure of form’, as by making a sketch
or plan. Thus, ‘Research Design’ is planning a strategy or drawing a blue print
of conducting research. It is a guideline for collecting and utilizing data so
that desired information can be obtained with sufficient precision and
hypothesis can be tested properly. A research is designed for the purpose of
producing results that may be applied to real world situations. It not only
enables a researcher to anticipate potential problems that can occur during the
actual operation of the research, but also to limit boundaries of research
study.
Definitions
of Research
Design
Some of the popular definitions of research design are:
1. “Research
design is the planned sequence of the entire process involved in conducting a
research study.” By Miller.
2. “Research
design is a catalogue of the various phases and facts relating to the
formulation of a research effort. It is an arrangement of the essential conditions
for collection and analysis of data in a form that aims to combine relevance to
research purpose with economy in the procedure”. By Selltiz and others.
3. “A
research designates the logical manner in which individuals or other units are
compared and analyzed, it is the basis of making interpretations from the
data”. By Anonymous.
4. “Also
known as a market research briefing, this is a basic plan which guides the data
collection and analysis phased of the research project. It acts a frame work
which details the type of information to be collected, the data sources and the
data collection procedure”. By Market Intelligence Group.
India
In short, research design is a plan of what data to gather,
from whom, how and when to collect the data, and how to analyze the data
obtained.
Need
for Research Design
Research
is a scientific investigation of a problem for which we need
a systematic planning of research. For successful research we need a research
design because it includes:
1. The
formulation of a strategy to resolve a particular question.
2. The
collection and recording of information and evidence.
3. The
processing and analysis of these data and their interpretation.
4. The
publication of results.
A
research design states structure and process of conducting a research process.
Thus, it shows a path to researcher without which he may be lost or confused as
to what next step he has to take. More so, it also takes care of budget and
time frame of the research study. All this planning can only make a research
study a success story.
Comments
Post a Comment