Research design in exclamatory studies must be flexible but in descriptive studies, it must minimize bias and maximize reliability? Discuss
Answers
Answer:
A common definition of research is gathering and analysing information systematically. After having set the objectives of research, next step is to decide the research design which best suits the research objectives. It is on the basis of the research design that the research methodology and sampling procedure are selected. Then lay out the structure and sequence of the overall research project. Finally, the research design is implemented and this implementation begins with the design of the data gathering instruments. After that follows, data collection, manipulation and analysis and at last the data is interpreted to know the results.
A research design is an important part of research that serves as a road map letting you know your position and where you will stand once you have completed the research. Researchers must keep their ultimate objectives in mind even if they have to take detours and change direction during the research process. The road map helps them reach their destination. Based on the research objectives a researcher can decide which is the best way to reach the destination and there are always more than one to go. There is not one research design which you can consider the best but you can select from several. The choice of research design is affected by several factors, small and large. From research objectives to search budget and time frame, there are several factors that can help you determine which research design suits your research the best. Much of the choice is still based on the objectives of the research which may be one of the following or something similar:
– Gain insight into a specific phenomenon and conduct a broad exploration of a topic to gain better knowledge in that field.
– Describing a phenomenon, population or event where we can establish numerical relationships or determine the extent to which two variables covary.
– Establish cause and effect relationships between two variables to understand how one changes when we vary the other.
These were the three broadly defined types of objectives on which names of types of research designs have been obtained respectively.
The three types of research designs are:
– Exploratory research
– Descriptive research
– Causal research.
Exploratory research
It is a lot like exploration or detective work fuelled by curiosity. Researchers should use their instincts to find clues and venture into new territories in search of information. Flexibility is important in exploratory research and it is bound to result in new ideas, revelations and insights.
These are some of the objectives that warrant the need for exploratory research:
– To define an ambiguous problem more precisely like why sales of a specific product are declining.
– To gain a better understanding of an issue.
– to generate new ideas like what one can do to improve customer relationships.
– develop hypotheses that can explain the occurrence of specific phenomena.
– for providing insights like what political changes in the international environmental are going to affect our business.
– to determine if some research would be practical and to set priorities for future like we must focus on these two product categories because as per research interest in other categories has waned and they are not profitable nay more.
Some tools used to conduct exploratory research:
1. Secondary information:
Most often the best point to start research from is to study the previous research conducted in this area. If you study what others have found out, it will help you gene
Concept
Exploratory studies are those studies in which researcher tries to explore new topics, new facts, findings. Descriptive studies are more formal, planned studies.
Explanation
Exploratory studies must be flexible so that all the facts, findings in all the directions and through all the ways so that the consequences, etc. will be found. In this type of studies research problem has to be defined.
Descriptive studies are those studies in which a clearly defined research problem is given and problem will be solved. This type of studies must minimize bias and maximize reliability because a given problem needs to be solved.
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