Hypothetical Designs - Essay Example

Introduction Research design Research design is an integral part of the research process which involves making a number of rational decisions. It usually comes after a researcher has successfully identified variables and has established a theoretical framework. Research design involves some basic steps which are discussed below. Research study can be exploratory, descriptive, hypothesis testing or just a case study analysis. The nature of the study basically depends on the fact that to which stage has knowledge of the researcher advanced; while conducting the research. Exploratory studies are for example conducted on issues that are relatively new, aiming at gaining more generic information without solving any problems. When a researcher has decided which type of research he wants to conduct, than he decides some other important variables which are part of research design e.g. Time horizon, sampling design, unit of analysis, data collection method, measurements, study settings, extent of researcher interference, types of investigations. The design can also be judged by type of assignment of samples. If random assignments are made it is experimental design, non-random is non-experimental design and it is quasi design if it has non-random assignment but all other ingredients of an experimental design. Ethical leadership Ethical leadership is becoming a global issue whether we talk about head of states or school principals. Actually with the increase in awareness everyone is becoming more concerned about rights and wrongs. School principals continuously face the same dilemma. Some are called bad leaders because they allow students relaxation and make exceptions for individuals; excluding favoritism. These exceptions usually stem from the compassion for young souls that is a basic criterion of any educational institutions. So what is right and what is wrong. There can be a number of ways to reach a judgment, but we will elaborate about these methods in our research designs. Hypothetical Designs Quantitative research The aim of a quantitative research is to establish a relationship between a dependent variable and an independent variable. There can be two types of quantitative research, either descriptive or experimental. The aim of an experimental research is to establish a causal relationship between the dependent and independent variable where as descriptive study only establishes an association. If we choose a descriptive study it usually requires a very large sample usually ranging for hundreds to thousands. If experimental study is chosen, a small sample size can result in a reliable research. Type of Study: We will conduct a descriptive study, because experimental study usually restricts the samples size. We want the sample size to be large so different type of cultures can be represented when taking about educational institution leadership. Investigation Type: Type of investigation will be correlation because; the aim is identification of the important factors associated with the problem statement. Extent of interference: The interference will be minimal as honest unbiased responses from the population are of importance. Study settings: The setting of the study will be non-contrived because for correlation studies a non-contrived study setting is the most ideal. Unit of Analysis: This basically refers to the aggregation of data collected. The unit of analysis will be the individual. This is because we aim to research on how educational leaders behave individually and not how they behave in groups. Sampling Design: A large sample size would be selected because it’s a descriptive study. Time Horizon: Study will be a cross sectional study because the data will be gathered just once, because it is the most ideal method for a descriptive study. Sample assignment: The samples will not be divided into group for study purposes and individuals would be considered part of one big group. If it was an experimental design the most appropriate assignment would be randomization because it helps in elimination of exogenous variables. Data collection method: Questionnaires would be the most appropriate method of data collection because of a large sample size. The responses from the respondents would be quantitative, so that appropriate statistical tools can be used for analysis. Qualitative Research Design Used mostly in behavioral sciences, qualitative research aims to establish a realistic and testable hypothesis, which can later be analyzed using quantitative methods. A qualitative research design for the problem mentioned will be drastically different from a quantitative design. Type of Study: Survey design would be used because it costs low. Investigation Type: Investigation type would be co relational Extent of interference: Extent of interference will be kept to a minimal. Study settings: This is a field study thus it will be non-contrived. Unit of Analysis: Unit of analysis will be the individual because the aim is to get individual opinion. Time Horizon: It will be a one shot study. Sample assignment: Individual will be taken as a part of one big group assigning equal weight to all sample responses. Data collection method: Questionnaires will be used as a data collection method, but the answers required would be qualitative answers. Mixed Methods Research Design A mixed method is a research design that mixes both qualitative and quantitative research to provide a conclusion. It can be used in both inductive and deductive scientific methods along with different types of data collection methods. Type of Study: A descriptive study would be conducted. Investigation Type: A co relational analysis would be appropriate because our research topic wants us to identify a relationship. Extent of interference: As the method is questionnaire survey, interference will be a minimal. Study settings: Non- Contrived Unit of Analysis: Individual Time Horizon: Cross-Sectional Sample assignment: Single Group assignment using random assignment. Data collection method: Data will be collected through questionnaires, but these questionnaires would require respondents to provide both quantitative and qualitative responses. Analysis The three methods are equally important in the field of research. Quantitative methods are mostly used when information about a research question is available and researcher aims to establish a clear cut relationship between variables, whether causal or co relational. Qualitative research can however be very affective when the answer to a question is not a simple yes of no. An important element of any research is its cost effectiveness, in this regard qualitative research is the leader, and it is an extremely cost effective method of research. As compared to quantitative research qualitative research always gives some useful research, whereas for example in a quantitative research an unproved hypothesis is useless. Quantitative research gives pinpointed results, which are measureable and testable, qualitative research however sometimes results in data that is too generic and unrelated to the topic under discussion. A method superior to the two methods is mixed method research design. It actually integrates qualitative and quantitative research into one package. This eliminates weaknesses of both methods giving results of higher quality, by providing a through analysis of both types of data. Works Cited Sekaran, Umma. Business Research Methodology: A skill building approach. Illinois: John Wiley& Sons. ‘Types of Designs’. Research Methods Knowledge base. 8 November 2008. (http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/destypes.php) ‘Quasi Experimental Design’. Research Methods Knowledge base. 8 November 2008. (http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/destypes.php) Brannen, Julia. Mixing Methods: The Entry of Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches into the Research Process. International Journal of Social Research Methodology. Read More