| What is the research process? | . |
| What is the research design? | A research design is the arrangement of conditions for collection and analysis of data in a manner that aims to combine relevance to the research purpose with economy of procedure |
| What are The Questions Behind the Research Design? | What is the study about?
Why is the study being made?
Where will the study be carried out?
What type of data is required?
When can the required data be found?
What periods of time will the study include?
What will be the sample design? |
| What are the Elements of the Research Design? | The sampling design deals with the method(s) of collecting items to be observed.
The observational design relates to the conditions under which the observations are to be made
The statistical design concerns about the sample size and data analysis
The operational design deals with the techniques necessary for the above three |
| Why do we need a research design? | Provides a methodological basis for research
Facilitates research process and increases its efficiency
Helps to avoid flaws
Makes possible problems predictable and solvable |
| What makes a good design? | A good design takes account of the following factors:
The means of obtaining information
The availability and skills of the researcher and staff, if any
The objective of the problem to be studied
The nature of the problem to be studied
The availability of time and funds for the project |
| What are the Dependent and independent variables? | . Dependent and independent variables.
- A concept that can take on different quantitative values is called a variable. e.g weight, height, income.
If one variable depends upon or is a consequence of the other variable, it is termed as a dependent variable, and the variable that causes or influences another associated factor or phenomenon is called independent variable. |
| What are Extraneous variables? | Extraneous variables (Independent variables that are not a subject of a study but may affect the results). |
| What is a control? | Necessary to minimize an effect of extraneous variables. |
| What is a Confounded relationship? | Confounded relationship. When the dependent variable is not free from the influence of extraneous variable, the relationship between the dependent and independent variables is said to be confounded by an extraneous variable. |
| What is an Experimental and control groups? | Experimental and control groups. In an experiment, when a group is exposed to usual conditions, it is termed a control group, but when the group is exposed to some special conditions, it is termed as an experimental group. |
| What are treatments? | Treatments. The different conditions under which experimental groups are put are usually referred to as treatments. |
| What is an experiment? | Experiment. the process of testing a hypothesis related to some research problem. |
| What is an experimental unit? | Experimental unit(s). The pre-determined plots or blocks, where different treatments are used, are known as experimental units. |
| What are the principles of experimental design? | Replication
the experiment should be repeated (replicated) more than once
Randomization
minimizes effect of extraneous factors
Local control
controls effect of known extraneous factors |
| Explain the Before-and-after without control experimental design? | -A single test group or area is selected and dependent variable is measured before and after the treatment. |
| What is the problem with the Before-and-after without control design? | The main problem with such a design is that with the passage of time considerable extraneous variations may be there in its treatment effect |
| Explain the after only with control research design? | Two groups or areas (test area and control area) are selected and treatment is introduced into the test area only. The dependent variable is measured in both the areas at the same time. |
| What is a basic assumption towards the after only with control design? | The basic assumption in such a design is that the two areas are identical with respect to their behaviour towards the phenomenon considered |
| Explain the Before and after with control Design? | Two areas are selected and the dependent variable is measured in both the areas for an identical time-period before the treatment. The treatment is then introduced into the test area only, and the dependent variable is measured in both for an identical time-period after the introduction of the treatment. |
| Why is the before and after design is the best design? | This design is superior to the above two designs as it avoids extraneous variation resulting both from the passage of time and from non-comparability of the test and control areas |
| What are the informal experimental designs? | -Before-and-after without control
-After-only with control
-Before-and-after with control |
| What is the completely randomized design? | Completely randomized design. Involves only two principles; the principle of replication and the principle of randomization of experimental designs. Generally used when experimental areas happen to be homogenous. |
| What is the randomized block design? | Randomized block. In addition to replication and randomization, the principle of local control is also applied. |
| Where is the Latin square often used? | Latin square (often used in agricultural studies) |
| What is the Factorial design? | Factorial . Factorial designs are used in experiments where the effects of varying more than one factor are to be determined.
(simple and complex) |
| What is the sampling design? | A plan of obtaining a sample from a given population.
Refers to both living and non-living objects.
Should be developed prior to the start of a study.
Should be appropriate to accomplish the goals of the study. |
| What are the steps in the sampling design? | Type of population (finite or infinite).
Sampling unit (e.g., geographical or social, etc.).
Source list: should be representable of the population being studied.
Sample size: the main problem and the most important factor…Optimum size is required.
Parameters of interest.
Budget (!)
Sampling procedure. |
| What’s the criteria of a sampling procedure to avoid systemic bias? | Inappropriate sampling frame results in a systematic bias.
Defective measuring device.
Non-respondents
Indeterminancy principle: people behave differently under observation.
Natural bias in the reporting of data. May result in a systematic bias. |
| What is the correlation between sampling error and sampling size? | Sampling error – inverse correlation with a sampling size. |
| What makes a good sampling design? | Sample is representative.
Small sampling error.
Most efficient for the funds available.
Low systematic bias.
Results of the sample study can be generalized. |
| What are the measurements in research? | Nominal data
Ordinal Data
Interval data
Ratio data |
| What is Nominal data and scale? | Nominal data
are used to convert qualitative data into the numerical format
One value is different from another, you have a nominal scale. |
| What is ordinal data and scale ? | Ordinal data
describe inequalities in a qualitative manner
One value is bigger, better or more of anything than other, you have an ordinal scale. |
| What is interval data and scale ? | Interval data
describe inequalities in a quantitative manner
One value is so many units (degree, inches) more or less than another, you have an interval scale. |
| What is ratio data and scale? | Ratio data
quantitative data subject to all mathematical operations
One value is so many times as big or bright or tall or heavy as another, you have a ratio scale. |
| What are the sources of errors in measurement? | Respondent
Situation
Measurer
Instrument |
| What is primary data? | The primary data are the first and most immediate recordings of a situation. |
| What is secondary data? | Secondary data are data that have been interpreted and recorded by others. (magazines, journals, newspapers) |
| What are the types of primary data? | Measurement—collections of numbers indicating amounts, e.g exam results, car mileages etc.)
Observation– Records of events, situations of things experienced with your own senses. e.g Microscopes.
Interviews—Data obtained by asking and probing |
| What are the formal experimental designs? | -Completely randomized design
-Randomized block
-Latin square
-Factorial |
