10 Research Designs: Types and Methods
Descriptive Research Design
Descriptive research design focuses on describing existing conditions, behaviors, or characteristics by systematically gathering information. The key defining attribute of this type of research design is that it purely describes the situation. It doesn’t explore potential relationships between different variables or the causes that may underlie those relationships. It is useful for generating insight into a research problem by describing its characteristics.
Correlational Research Design
Correlational design is a popular choice for researchers aiming to identify and measure the relationship between two or more variables without manipulating them. It can be implemented at a large scale more easily than experimental designs. Correlation doesn’t mean causality!
Experimental Research Design
Experimental research design is used to determine if there is a causal relationship between two or more variables. With this type of research design, the researcher manipulates one variable while controlling others. Doing so, they can observe the effect of the former on the latter and draw conclusions about potential causality. Experimental research design requires random assignment.
Quasi-Experimental Research Design
Quasi-experimental research design is used when the research aims to identify causal relations, but it’s impossible to randomly assign participants to different groups. Instead, the researcher relies on existing groups or pre-existing conditions to form groups for comparison. Given that participant assignment is not random, it’s more difficult to confidently establish causality between variables, and, as a researcher, you have less control over other variables that may impact findings.
Phenomenological Research Design
Phenomenological design involves exploring the meaning of lived experiences and how they are perceived by individuals. This type of research design seeks to understand people’s perspectives, emotions, and behaviors in specific situations. The aim for researchers is to uncover the essence of human experience without making any assumptions or imposing preconceived ideas on their subjects.
Data Collection
Phenomenological research design typically involves in-depth interviews or open-ended questionnaires to collect rich, detailed data about participants’ subjective experiences.
Limitations
Potential biases in data collection and interpretation, and the lack of generalizability of findings to broader populations.
Grounded Theory Research Design
Grounded theory aims to develop theories by continuously and iteratively analyzing and comparing data collected from a relatively large number of participants in a study.
Data Collection
Grounded theory typically involves collecting data through interviews or observations.
Limitations
This type of research design can be quite time-intensive, given the need for multiple rounds of data collection and analysis.
Ethnographic Research Design
Ethnographic design consists of observing and studying a culture-sharing group of people in their natural environment to gain insight into their behaviors, beliefs, and values.
Data Collection
It typically involves the researcher spending an extended period of time with the participants in their environment, carefully observing and taking field notes; but it also involves in-depth interviews to explore participants’ views, beliefs, etc.
Limitations
Researcher bias, participant confidentiality, and ethical complexities.
Case Study Research Design
A case study is an in-depth study of a particular research problem. It is often used to narrow down a very broad field of research into one or a few easily researchable examples. It can have different variations: single-case, multiple-case, and longitudinal designs.
Data Collection
Observations, in-depth interviews, open-ended questionnaires, focus groups, etc. All tools to collect detailed subjective data.
Strength and Limitation
A case study research design is particularly useful where a deep and contextualized understanding of a specific phenomenon or issue is desired. However, this strength is also its weakness since the findings from a case study cannot be generalized to the broader population.
Narrative Inquiry Research Design
Narrative inquiry is relatively new among the qualitative research designs. The researcher gathers data or facts from one or more subjects over a period of time, focusing on the experiences of individuals.
Data Collection
Observations, in-depth interviews, open-ended questionnaires, focus groups…
Limitations
Potential researcher’s bias, lack of generalizability of findings, and challenges in protecting participants’ confidentiality.
Action Research Design
Action research focuses on solving problems in social systems by generating knowledge of how to address the problem and taking action. It’s a collaborative and adaptive research design. It isn’t linear. Instead, there are cycles of reflection on actions, followed by new actions that then themselves become the subject of reflection. Change does not happen at the end of the research project but throughout it.
Data Sources
Surveys, questionnaires, focus groups, observations…
Limitations
It is harder to do than conducting conventional studies because the researcher takes on responsibilities for encouraging change as well as for research.