Research Design

According to De-Marrais, Kathleen and Lapan (2004), the research design is the structure, strategy and plan of investigation so formed as to obtain answers to the problems and queries of research. The phase of research design deals with the brief description of procedures that will be acquired to carry out the study of research. This kind of research is carried out irrespective of whether the study is carried out in the

laboratory or field, and provides the descriptions of the procedures of data collection and the analytical procedures selection to be used to acquire the objectives of research.

Similarly et al. (1996) described that the research design is the detailed plan or blueprint for how a research study is to be finished, operationalizing variables so that they can be measured, gathering data to be used as a basis for analyzing outcomes and testing hypotheses and also selecting a sample of interest to study.

The research design is a plan of action of a research proposal in which researchers characterize how they proceed and which methods and strategies they will adopt. Its components are the analysis and gathering of data the extension of theory and intended development and the process of generating reliability and validity. In contrast, according to Roberts (2000), the research design manages the matters, such as choosing participants for research and preparing for activities of data collection that consist of the research process.

The purpose of research design is to offer answers to research queries and to control the variance. A good research design assists in interpreting and understanding the outcomes of the study and ensures that a researcher obtains usable outcomes. There are several types of research designs. Among the most commonly used research designs are exploratory research, descriptive research, experimental research design and case study research designs (Fry, Chantavanich and Chantavanich, 1981).

Figure 4.1 shows two kinds of research designs – conclusive and exploratory research design.

Figure 4.1: Types of Research Design

Research design

Conclusive design

Exploratory design

Casual design Descriptive design (Mostly qualitative in nature)

(Mostly quantitative in nature)

4.2.1. Exploratory research design

According to Bryman, Stephen and Campo (1996) exploratory research is always conducted to explore the problem and is usually done when the alternative choices have not been defined clearly or their scope is unclear. Exploratory research permits the researchers to briefly explore problems to popularize themselves with the concept or issue to be studied. Leinhardt and Leinhardt (1980) explained that the exploratory research design is applied when the research objectives consist of the following:-

1) producing a more accurate formulation of a vaguely recognized issue; 2) identifying issues; 3) formulating and identifying alternative action courses; 4) achieving researcher and management prospects concerning the character of the problem situation;

5) implementing priorities based on the essential significance of different issues; and 6) collecting information on the associated problem by doing conclusive research.

4.2.2. Conclusive research design

Manly (1992) described that the purpose of conclusive research is to check the research hypotheses. Conclusive research is often quantitative and may be generated to a sampled population. Conclusive research is the structured collection and data analysis belonging to a specific issue or problem. The purpose of conclusive research is to check the research hypotheses. Conclusive research is often quantitative and may be generated to the sampled population. Similarly, Singer and Willett (2003) explained that the conclusive research is the structured collection and data analysis belonging to a specific issue or problem. It is more focused than exploratory research and requires huge samples and numerous limited queries to provide quantitative data to make determinations. As shown in the above figure, the conclusive research design may be either causal or descriptive in nature.

According to Maxcy (2003) descriptive research defines the kind of data analysis, research design and questions that are applied for a given concept. The descriptive statistics tells us what are the causes and effects of descriptive research.

Descriptive research can be either qualitative or quantitative. Collins, Onwuegbuzie and Jiao (2007) described descriptive research as involving the collection of data that describe the events and then depicts, tabulates, organizes and describes the collection of data. This research attempts to implement responses to the questions of when, what, how and sometimes who. Here the researcher tries to explain or define a subject, often by creating a profile or a gathering of issues, people and events. The major need of descriptive research is the description of the state of affairs as it currently occurs. On the

other hand, Walliman and Walliman (2010) described causal research design as being used to examine the relationship of the cause and effect between the variables. Causal research recognizes the extent to which variables are interconnected with each other.

Causal research design depends on experiments and the conduct of interviews.

Similarly, Elliott (2005) explained that causal research design is appropriate when the research objective is to recognize a variable that affects the phenomenon being understood and identifying why they affect what is being affected.

4.2.3. Research Design adapted in this study

Descriptive research design is adapted in this study. According to Miller and Gatta (2006), descriptive research is mere description and is fundamental to research enterprise. It has added immeasurably to the shape and nature of knowledge of the society. Descriptive research empowers several sponsored government researches including the gathering of a vast range of economic and social information and census of the population. Similarly, Schwandt (2006) explained that descriptive research helps researchers to produce data that can explain the characteristics and composition of similar groups. These groups can be employees, customers, service providers and other organizations. Descriptive research can generate perfect understanding about the inquiry groups and the interrelationships among variables. Descriptive research is a quick identifying investigation with sufficient interpretation.