Research designs are basically
classified into two, namely:
a) Exploratory
b) Descriptive
A. Exploratory research design
Exploratory research design
applies when the research objectives include the following:
a. identifying problems
b. developing a more precise
formulation of a vaguely identified problem
c. gaining perspective
regarding the breath of variables operating in a situation
d. establishing priorities
regarding the potential significance of various problems
e. gaining management and
researcher perspective concerning the character of the problem situation
f. identifying and formulating alternative
courses of action; and
g. gathering information on
the problems associated with doing conclusive research.
h. identification of
problems can be assisted through the following:
i)
Searching secondary sources
ii)
Interviewing knowledgeable persons
iii) Compiling case histories.
B.
Descriptive Research Design:
Descriptive
research encompasses much government sponsored research including the
population census, the collection of a wide range of social indicators and
economic information such as household expenditure patterns, time use studies,
employment and crime statistics and the like.
Descriptions
can be concrete or abstract. A relatively concrete description might describe
the ethnic mix of a community, the changing age profile of a population or the
gender mix of a workplace. Alternatively, the description might ask more
abstract questions such as `Is the level of social inequality increasing or
declining?', `How secular is society?' or `How much poverty is there in this
community?'
Accurate
descriptions of the level of unemployment or poverty have historically played a
key role in social policy reforms (Marsh, 1982). By demonstrating the existence
of social problems, competent description can challenge accepted assumptions
about the way things are and can provoke action.
