Different Types of

Research Designs
Research design is defined as a
framework of methods and techniques
chosen by a researcher to combine
various components of research in a
reasonably logical manner so that the
research problem is efficiently handled. It
provides insights about “how” to conduct
research using a particular methodology.
Every researcher has a list of research
questions which need to be assessed –
this can be done with research design.
Descriptive research design is a
scientific method which involves
observing and describing the
behavior of a subject without
influencing it in any way. Descriptive
research is used to describe
characteristics of a population or
phenomenon being studied.
It does not answer questions about
how/when/why the characteristics
occurred. Rather it addresses the "what"
question. The characteristics used to
describe the situation or population are
usually some kind of categorical scheme
also known as descriptive categories.
A descriptive-normative survey combines
two research methods: gathering
information to describe the object of
study as it is, has been or is viewed
(descriptive method); and critiquing of
the object to identify ways to improve it
(normative method). Descriptive-
normative surveys do not involve making
or testing recommended improvements.
Descriptive surveys provide information
regarding how things are and normative
surveys describe things as they could be.
Descriptive surveys are used most
frequently to begin research in a new
area. These surveys gather data and
descriptive information without making
judgment. Descriptive research can lead
to the identification of key variables that
may then be used in normative research.
A correlational research studies is a
type of research design where a
researcher seeks to understand
what kind of relationships naturally
occurring variables have with one
another. In simple terms,
correlational research seeks to
figure out if two or more variables
are related and, if so, in what way.
Descriptive evaluation methods of
research include interviews and
mailed questionnaires. Often it
involves a group that is preselected
without any base group to
compare the results against. A
research instrument is what you use
to collect the information in a
qualitative field study or
observation.
It helps you keep track of what you
observe and how to report it. It
must be both valid and precise.
Descriptive evaluation methods of
research include interviews and
mailed questionnaires. Often it
involves a group that is preselected
without any base group to
compare the results against.
Assessment studies is defined as a
methodical way of acquiring,
reviewing and using information
about someone or something, so
as to make improvement where
necessary. The term is interpreted in
a variety of ways, i.e. educational,
psychological, financial, taxation,
human resource and so on.
The evaluation studies includes
both quantitative and qualitative
analysis of data and undertaken
once in a while. It ascertains
whether the standards or goals
established are met or not. If they
are met successfully, then it
identifies the difference between
actual and intended outcomes.
Descriptive Comparative Studies
The purpose of the quantitative
study is to compare organizational
outcomes of companies with
different levels of workforce
diversity. Interest in diversity issues
has stemmed mostly from
demographic changes.
It is suggested that the United States workforce is
becoming more heterogeneous (Bouville, 2008).
Workforce diversity manifests heterogeneous
workforces in terms of characteristics that reflect
differences such as age, ethnicity, race, and
gender (Robbins, 2004). Through this study, global
companies that engage in workforce diversity can
characterize the nature of their operations as well
as the results of their operations organizational
outcomes.
Experimental research is commonly used in
sciences such as sociology and psychology,
physics, chemistry, biology and medicine etc. It is a
systematic and scientific approach to research in
which the researcher manipulates one or more
variables, and controls and measures any change
in other variables. The researcher manipulates one
variable, and control/randomizes the rest of the
variables. It has a control group, the subjects have
been randomly assigned between the groups, and
the researcher only tests one effect at a time.
It is also important to know what variable you
want to test and measure. A very wide definition
of experimental research, or a quasi experiment, is
research where the scientist actively influences
something to observe the consequences. Most
experiments tend to fall in between the strict and
the wide definition.
For many true experimental designs, pretest-posttest
designs are the preferred method to compare
participant groups and measure the degree of change
occurring as a result of treatments or interventions.
Pretest-posttest designs are an expansion of the posttest
only design with nonequivalent groups, one of the
simplest methods of testing the effectiveness of an
intervention.
In this design, which uses two groups, one group is given
the treatment and the results are gathered at the end.
The control group receives no treatment, over the same
period of time, but undergoes exactly the same tests.
A single-group pretest–posttest design is a type
of research design that is most often utilized by
behavioral researchers to determine the effect
of a treatment or intervention on a given
sample. This research design is characterized by
two features. The first feature is the use of a
single group of participants (i.e., a one-group
design). This feature denotes that all participants
are part of a single condition—meaning all
participants are given the same treatments and
assessments.
The Solomon four-group design is a
research design that attempts to take into
account the influence of pretesting on
subsequent posttest results. Some research
designs include a pretest, which is taken
before exposure to a treatment, and a
posttest, which is administered after
exposure to a treatment.
Researchers employ a pretest-posttest
design in order to demonstrate that
exposure to a treatment led to differences
between the pretest and posttest scores.
However, there can be some drawbacks to
including both a pretest and posttest in an
experimental design. In particular,
researchers have noted that including a
pretest in a study design introduces threats
to both internal and external validity.