Research Design

1
Chapter 4

• Research Design

2
Chapter Outline

• Three Purposes of Research
• The Logic of Nomothetic Explanation
• Necessary and Sufficient Causes
• Units of Analysis
• The Time Dimension
• How to Design a Research Project
• The Research Proposal

3
Three Purposes of Research

• Exploration
• Description
• Explanation

4
Purpose of Exploratory Studies

• Satisfy the researchers curiosity and desire for
  better understanding.
• Test the feasibility of undertaking a more
  extensive study.
• Develop the methods to be employed in any
  subsequent study.

5
Criteria for Nomothetic Causality

• A statistical correlation between the two
  variables.
• The cause takes place before the effect.
• There is no third variable that can explain away
  the observed correlation as spurious.

6
False Criteria for Nomothetic Causality

• While research can determine some causes, it
  cannot determine complete causation.
• Exceptions do not disprove a causal relationship.
• Causal relationships can be true even if they
  dont apply in a majority of cases.

7
Necessary and Sufficient Causes

• Necessary cause represents a condition that must
  be present for the effect to follow.
• Sufficient cause represents a condition that if
  present, guarantees the effect in question.
• Causes that are necessary and sufficient are the
  most satisfying outcome in research.

8
Units of Analysis

• What or whom to study
• Individuals
• Groups
• Organizations
• Social artifacts

9
Units of Analysis and Faulty Reasoning

• Ecological fallacy assuming something learned
  about an ecological unit says something about the
  individuals in the unit.
• Reductionism reducing something to a simple
  explanation when in reality it is complex.

10
How to Design a Research Project

• Define the purpose of your project.
• Specify exact meanings for the concepts you want
  to study (conceptualize).
• Choose a research method.
• Decide how to measure the results.

11
How to Design a Research Project

• Decide whom or what to study.
• Collect empirical data.
• Process the data.
• Analyze the data.
• Report your findings.

12
Elements of a Research Proposal

• Problem or objective
• Literature review
• Subjects for study
• Measurement

13
Elements of a Research Proposal

• Data-collection methods
• Analysis
• Schedule
• Budget