Research Methds
e eBook Collection
56
CHAPTER 5
Research design
Research designs are master techniques . . .
(Kornhauser and Lazarsfeld, 1955)
The research design is the overall plan for relating the conceptual research problem to relevant and practicable empirical research. In other words, the research design provides a plan or a framework for data collection and its analysis.
It reveals the type of research (e.g. exploratory, descriptive or causal) and the priorities of the researcher. The research methods, on the other hand, refer to the techniques used to collect data. The type and quality of empirical research are greatly influenced by the underlying research design, as emphasized in the above quote. This chapter focuses on important problems to be handled by the researcher in selecting an adequate research design for her or his empirical study. 5.1 The design problem
Empirical research is conducted to answer or elucidate research questions. Poorly formulated research questions will lead to misguided research design. Some advocate an open approach, with no research questions. This is however a very risky approach (Hammersley and Atkinson, 1995; Bryman and Bell, 2003). Strategic choice of research design should come up with an approach that allows for solving the research problem in the best possible way – within the given constraints.
In other words, a research design should be effective in producing the wanted information within the constraints put on the researcher, for example time, budgetary and skill constraints. This last point is important, even though too frequently overlooked. In business, research results must often be produced within strict time constraints, limiting the number of possible research options.
What is more, the business student usually has a limited amount of time to produce a research report for her or his degree. In most cases the amount of money available for doing the research is also limited, and the student’s
56
CHAPTER 5
Research design
Research designs are master techniques . . .
(Kornhauser and Lazarsfeld, 1955)
The research design is the overall plan for relating the conceptual research problem to relevant and practicable empirical research. In other words, the research design provides a plan or a framework for data collection and its analysis.
It reveals the type of research (e.g. exploratory, descriptive or causal) and the priorities of the researcher. The research methods, on the other hand, refer to the techniques used to collect data. The type and quality of empirical research are greatly influenced by the underlying research design, as emphasized in the above quote. This chapter focuses on important problems to be handled by the researcher in selecting an adequate research design for her or his empirical study. 5.1 The design problem
Empirical research is conducted to answer or elucidate research questions. Poorly formulated research questions will lead to misguided research design. Some advocate an open approach, with no research questions. This is however a very risky approach (Hammersley and Atkinson, 1995; Bryman and Bell, 2003). Strategic choice of research design should come up with an approach that allows for solving the research problem in the best possible way – within the given constraints.
In other words, a research design should be effective in producing the wanted information within the constraints put on the researcher, for example time, budgetary and skill constraints. This last point is important, even though too frequently overlooked. In business, research results must often be produced within strict time constraints, limiting the number of possible research options.
What is more, the business student usually has a limited amount of time to produce a research report for her or his degree. In most cases the amount of money available for doing the research is also limited, and the student’s