Research design characteristics, how to do it, example

The Research design it is the framework with which a researcher plans his research. It includes the type of research, its objective, techniques, population, data analysis and the procedure to carry out the study.

In other words, the research design sets the parameters for any research. Determines what is included and what is not, and defines the criteria by which the results will be evaluated.

The reliability and validity of any study will depend on how the data collected is collected, measured, analyzed, and interpreted. That is why a good research design is essential for any research proposal, be it a thesis or a scientific study..

The research design establishes the structure of the research, as well as its nature. Likewise, both the variables and the tools to be used to study these variables and what technique will be used are specified..

Article index

• 1 Characteristics of the research design
  • 1.1 Neutrality
  • 1.2 Reliability
  • 1.3 Validity
  • 1.4 Generalization
• 2 Elements of research design
  • 2.1 Definition and justification of the research topic
  • 2.2 Research objectives
  • 2.3 Type of investigation
  • 2.4 Hypothesis
  • 2.5 Population and the sample
  • 2.6 Investigation techniques
  • 2.7 Data analysis
  • 2.8 The procedure
• 3 How to do a research design step by step
  • 3.1 Step 1: Select the topic
  • 3.2 Step 2: Research objectives
  • 3.3 Step 3: Type of investigation
  • 3.4 Step 4: The hypothesis
  • 3.5 Step 5: Samples
  • 3.6 Step 6: The techniques
  • 3.7 Step 7: Data analysis
  • 3.8 Step 8: Procedure
• 4 Example of Pollution Research Design
• 5 References

Research design features

Neutrality

The research must be free of personal opinions, and its results must be free from ideological biases or of any other type. It must be objective.

Reliability

Reliability refers to the probability that similar results will be obtained with similar methods.

In this sense, it is necessary to indicate how the information will be collected and in what way it will be analyzed, to ensure a reliable model: so the experiment can be repeated over and over again..

Validity

Research that uses appropriate measurement techniques and tools will be valid, according to which the researcher can measure the results according to the objective studied..

Validity and reliability are the foundations for all research design.

Generalization

The result of the research may be applicable to larger groups, to the entire population, and not only to the restricted segment on which the study was carried out..

Research design elements

The research design includes several elements:

• Definition of the problem.
• The objectives of the investigation.
• The type of research.
• The hypothesis.
• Population and sample.
• The techniques used.
• Data analysis.
• The procedure.

Let's take a closer look at the elements:

Definition and justification of the research topic

The reason why you want to investigate a certain problem and why it is important is established; it usually starts from a social and practical need. The relevance of the problem to society, who it affects and how is explained.

Research objectives

The objectives respond to questions such as "what is intended?", "To what extent?", "Where?", "How will the intended be achieved?", "For what?".

These objectives, which will range from the general to the most particular, must be stated as clearly as possible, with simple and direct language..

Kind of investigation

Research can be classified into quantitative (there are numerical values) and qualitative (something is studied that cannot be measured numerically).

• An example of qualitative research is the observational work of scientist Claude Lévi-Strauss on the behavior of indigenous groups in Brazil. There is only observation of the behavior of people, there are no numerical data that can be measured.
• An example of a quantitative research design is a study on the amount of greenhouse gases released per year in New Delhi.

Once you have decided what type of general research is going to be carried out (quantitative or qualitative), depending on the objective there may be several subtypes:

• Explanatory research: the aim is to explain the research problem.
• Descriptive research: the object of study is described.
• Documentary research: bibliographic sources related to the object of study are reviewed.
• Correlational research: the relationship between two variables is studied. For example, the relationship between living in Mexico City and obesity.
• Experimental research: experiments are performed to confirm or reject a hypothesis.
• Exploratory research: it is a first approach to the object of study.

Hypothesis

Hypotheses are the explanations or solutions that are tentatively given to a phenomenon. They are stated in the form of propositions - affirmative or negative - and involve the variables.

A hypothesis must be clear and precise, specific, capable of verification and be supported empirically or theoretically. Here the samples taken, the affected population, the variables and the links established between them will be important..

• An example of a hypothesis for an investigation on the SARS-CoV-2 virus would be: "The SARS-CoV-2 virus is more easily spread in cold climates".

Population and sample

The population is the broad group from which data will be collected, experimented with, or investigated. The sample is the specific subgroup within the population.

For example, in an investigation on obesity in the population of Mexico, the population would be all Mexicans. The sample could be 100,000 inhabitants of Mexico City.

Research techniques

Techniques are the specific ways in which data about the object of study will be collected. They may be:

• Experiments
• Survey
• Data collection in the field
• Interview
• Observation
• Group sessions
• Documents

Analysis of data

Research design also includes data analysis. The data can be analyzed qualitatively (the subjectivity and reasoning of the researcher is used) or quantitatively (quantitative data are measured with statistical programs).

The procedure

The procedure is the specific steps that will be carried out in the investigation. That is, it explains in detail how the samples are selected, how data will be collected, how they will be analyzed, the places used and other aspects that depend on each particular investigation..

How to do a research design step by step

Now that we know the characteristics and elements of the research design, we can go on to explain how to do one step by step. For this we will use an example of an investigation on COVID-19.

Step 1: Select the topic

In the first step, the researcher selects what to investigate specifically.

• In our example we want to study the effectiveness of a drug in the population of patients with COVID-19.

Step 2: Research objectives

The general objective and the specific ones are specifically detailed.

• The objective of our research is to determine the efficacy of a drug in eliminating the virus from the body of patients.

Step 3: Type of investigation

In the type of research we will explain if it is quantitative or qualitative and within these which subtype.

• In our example, it will be a quantitative and experimental investigation in which the effectiveness of a drug to treat the COVID-19 disease will be measured..

Step 4: The hypothesis

Not all investigations establish a hypothesis. For example, in a qualitative investigation that describes how a species of whale behaves, a hypothesis is not established.

• In our example, a hypothesis could be: "The drug that we will use will eliminate the virus in 80% of patients".

Step 5: Samples

• In our example we will take 3000 people with symptoms of COVID-19 residing in Mexico City.

Step 6: The techniques

It is also necessary to explain which data collection technique will be used.

• In our example we will do screening tests to measure what% of patients have recovered.

Step 7: Data Analysis

In the research design it is important to explain how we will analyze the data we have obtained.

• In our example we will analyze the data quantitatively with a statistical program to establish what percentage of patients have recovered..

In another case of qualitative research, as in an observation, it would be explained that the data will be analyzed qualitatively, taking into account the subjectivity of the researcher.

Step 8: Procedure

The procedure explains the specific steps that will be taken to conduct the investigation..

• In our example, first we will gather the sample of volunteers to test the drug, then we will prepare the doses, then we will proceed to call the patients in a controlled clinic and administer the doses to them, we will carry out a follow-up to observe possible side effects, after two weeks we will perform tests on all patients in the sample to see the results.

Pollution Research Design Example

Below is a simplified example of a research design on a traffic gas pollution investigation in Mexico City.

Pollution levels in Mexico City have continued to rise, due to population growth and the higher emission of pollutants released by cars. To know the real situation, it is necessary to measure the objective amount of gases released by the city's cars. (Definition of the problem).

Our overall goal is to determine the amount of gases released by cars. (Research objective).

For our objective we will quantitatively measure the amount of gases, especially carbon dioxide (CO₂), carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), released by automobiles, placing a measuring device on them. With this we will try to describe the exact amount of gases released each day. (Type of research, in this case quantitative and descriptive).

In this case, there is no specific hypothesis, we simply want to know the amount of polluting gases released into the atmosphere in Mexico City. (Hypothesis).

To carry out our research we will take a sample of 3000 cars from Mexico City in which a CO₂, CO and NOx measuring device will be placed. (Population and data collection technique).

We will wait a month and once the gas measurement devices have been collected, we will analyze the data with the SPSS statistical program. (Analysis of data).

The procedure to carry out the investigation will begin with the purchase of the devices for measuring and observing their correct operation. Once we are sure they are working well, we will continue our search for volunteers. Appointments will then be made with each volunteer to place the measuring device in the car and explain how it works. They will wait 30 days for the data collection, during which a telephone line will be established to solve doubts and problems for the volunteers. Finally, the devices will be collected and the data will be analyzed. (Process).

References

1. Bordens, K.S., Abbott, B.B. (2002). Research Design and Methods: A Process Approach. Taken from psycnet.apa.org.
2. Vallejo, M. (2002). The research design: a brief methodological review. Archives of Cardiology of Mexico, vol. 72, No. 1, pp. 8-12. Taken from medigraphic.com.
3. Suárez Montes, N., Sáenz Gavilanes, J., Mero Vélez, J. (2016). Essential elements of research design and its characteristics. Scientific journal of the social sciences, vol. 2, pp. 72-85. Taken from dialenet.unirioja.es.
4. McCombes, S. (2019). How to Create a Research Design Taken from scribbr.com.
5. Research Designs (2020). Taken from explorable.com.es.
6. Guide for the elaboration of a research design (2020). Taken from fts.uner.edu.ar.
7. Research design. Elements and characteristics (2020). Taken from questionpro.com.