The research design is the strategic plan that will be carried out to achieve
the objectives of the thesis. The design serves to collect the information that is needed to
test the hypothesis. For that reason, it is logical that the design comes
after having a clear statement of the problem.
An investigation can be
developed based on several research designs. Still, it is best to use a single strategy because these require resources, and making use of more than
one can significantly increase the costs of the thesis. Another reason is
that working with various research designs requires research experience, and an
undergraduate student may not have acquired the necessary knowledge.
When we are at this stage of
the thesis, we are already in the methodological process that will help
us to organize the procedures and data collection activities. We
should already have the theoretical considerations ready since the design
follows from the concepts or theories that we have used for our study. As
you will see, it is necessary to proceed orderly because one stage leads to the
other.
If the design we choose is well
thought out, we will have more opportunities to collect the relevant information
and obtain the expected results. Of course, the type of design with which
we decide to measure the data will go hand in hand with the purpose of our
thesis.
The use of research design
In works with a quantitative
approach, design is fundamental. As these are numerical and statistical
data analysis investigations, the application of the method, as it was
conceived, will guarantee the quality of the information obtained. Consequently,
the interpretation of the results will be made appropriately, and, finally, the
objectives of the thesis can be satisfactorily achieved.
The design must be used
rigorously, that is, comply with each procedure in an orderly and organized
way, not skip or neglect any aspect. However, if an unexpected change in circumstances occurs that
affects the design's application, it must be adapted to the new situation in
the planned manner.
Types of designs
Experimental
With these designs, the
researcher intervenes by creating one or more situations and then analyzing their
possible consequences or implications on a specific reality. It constitutes a controlled and intentional manipulation of some
variables to measure the effects or results of that operation. They are
research designs that are expressed in the relationship of stimulus and
response.
The experiments attempt to test
the prediction that is the hypothesis of the thesis. For example, "X
medical treatment cures liver and kidney cancer," "A new fertilizer
increases plant growth," or "A hormone reduces depression."
Not experimental
These designs do not manipulate
variables but rather observe phenomena in their daily environments. This means that they are based on observation without intervention
and, later, analyzing the observed data.
These designs do not control or
influence the variables but are dedicated to recording results or effects that
occur due to natural causes. For example: "Study of the impact of wage increases on the
middle class" or "Investigate the number of certain crimes in a
city." Opinion polls are a clear example of non-experimental designs.
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