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[pic] 3.1 Definition of research designs
The term ‘research design’ is used in variety of ways by researchers. It is referred as a masterplan, blueprint, and even as a sequence of research tasks and activities. The research design provides a plan of how the researcher will go about answering the research question (s) defined by the manager and researcher together (clearly defining the problem into a researchable question is extremely important). The research design also contains clear objectives, derived from research data, the design technique(s) (survey), observation, experimental etc), the sampling methodology and procedures, the schedule and the budget. There should be clear justification with regard to the research design based on the research question and objectives.
A research design is a framework or blueprint for conducting the marketing research project. It details the procedures necessary for obtaining the information needed to structure or solve marketing research problems.
Research design is a set of advanced decisions that make up the master plan specifying the methods and procedures for collecting and analyzing the needed information.
Research design in simple terms is a plan of the methods and procedures that is used by researchers to collect and analyze the data needed by the manager.
[pic] 3.2 Classification of Research designs
Researchers have mixed