SPE 570

Project Template

Developing a Research Design:

The Research Design is, in some ways, the heart of the project. It is the part of your paper that takes into account what you want to examine (your narrow topic) and what you’ve found that’s already been done or discovered on the topic (the review of the literature). Most importantly, it sets down the “rules” for doing the study. It is, therefore, absolutely critical that your research design will provide you with a vehicle to REALLY TEST exactly what you said you’d test in your topic identification process and in your review of the literature.

The research design will give provide a set of step-by-step directions which MUST be followed without exception. The design should also eliminate any possible bias that might be involved and it should provide instructions that are clear enough for another researcher to duplicate.

In general, there are two general approaches to developing a research design. These are:

1)Quantitative studies concentrate on collecting as much empirical data as possible and then analyzing that data using mathematical and statistical methods. As Wikepedia (2009) explains it: “The objective of quantitative research is to develop and employ mathematical models, theories and/or hypotheses pertaining to natural phenomena. The process of measurement is central to quantitative research because it provides the fundamental connection between empiricalobservation and mathematical expression of quantitative relationships.”

2)Qualitative studies which “aim to gather an in-depth understanding of human behavior and thereasons that govern such behavior.”(Wikepedia, 2009) Quantitative research designs investigate “the why and how of decision making, not just what, where, when. Hence, smaller but focused samples are more often needed rather than large random samples.” (Wikepedia, 2009)

Here are the stepsto developing a good research design.

My specific research topic is:

Hypotheses: A hypothesis is “either a suggested explanation for an observable phenomenon or a reasoned proposal predicting a possible causal correlation among multiple phenomena.” (Wikepedia, 2009) In plain English, a hypothesis is what you think your study will show (NOT prove, because immutable proof is not possible using standard research methods).

My primary hypothesis is:

My secondary hypothesis is:

For purposes of your 570 project, you should not have more than two hypotheses.

Selecting the sample:

Who will participate in your study?

How will they be selected?

Who will be eliminated?

Identifying the variables: A variable is a part of a problem (a factor) that you have identified as key to the understanding of that problem. It is a component that is developed by analyzing (breaking down) your research topic. You may ONLY use variables that directly relate to your topic that can be measured in some fair and meaningful way.

Variable 1:

Variable 2:

Variable 3:

Variable 4:

Variable 5:

For purposes of the 570 project, you should not have more than five variables.

Operationalizing variables: To operationalize a variable is to determine the rule for how it will be measured or defined. The operationalization of a variable provides the rule for how data related to that variable will be taken. In other words, what data will you take and how will you take it?

There are many, many ways to take data. Some of the most common are:

  • Frequency data – simply counting how many times you see a given behavior during a pre-established time period.
  • Survey data – asking people what they think about a specified part of your topic. Surveys may be executed as either live or recorded interviews or as written responses to a written questionnaire.
  • Existing performance data -- recording data from an existing source (i.e. sometimes there are records that can be used to examine the variables in your topic).
  • Content analysis – examining material that was produced by your subjects and rating it. Typically, this form of data is a written, verbal, or graphic response to a question that is recorded and then submitted to at least 3 independent evaluators for scoring. If you use this method of operationalization, it is essential that you provide information on: 1) criteria for the selection of raters; 2) training provided to the trainers regarding how evaluation should e done; and 3) a specific, statistical measure of interrater reliability.
  • Interaction analysis – This method of examining variables concentrates on how two or more people interact with each other. It is a “method for the empirical investigation of the interaction of human beings with each other and with objects in their environment. It investigates human activities such as talk, nonverbal interaction, and the use of artifacts and technologies, identifying routine practices and problems and the resources for their solution.” (Jordan and Henderson, 1995) Interaction analysis data may be taken by direct observation of two or more subjects or through the use of audio or video files.
  • Case study – A precise description of specified characteristics of a single subject and demonstrating how that single subject represents or differs from a large group.
  • Formal evaluation study – This design deals with the evaluation of a specified program. It measures how successful the program was in accomplishing its stated aims.

Operational definition of Variable 1:

Operational definition of Variable 2:

Operational definition of Variable 3:

Operational definition of Variable 4:

Operational definition of Variable 5:

Step by step execution: This part of the research design provides a “task analysis” of EXACTLY how the study will be carried out. Each step must be listed and, once incorporated into the design, a step may not be ignored or changed.

Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3:

Step 4:

Step 5:

Step 6:

Step 7:

Step 8:

Step 9:

Step 10:

List more steps, if necessary, on additional paper.

Data generated:

I anticipate that my study will generate the following data: