Describe the concepts of research design.

      

Describe the concepts of research design.

  

Answers


Kavungya
1. Dependent and independent variables:
A variable is a concept (weight, height, income, age ) that can take different quantitative values.
o A continuous variable is one which can take on quantitatively different values even in decimal points
ABA 431- Research Methods for Business Management Page 27 of 46
o Discrete variables are those than can only be expressed in integer values eg age, number of children.
o Dependent Variable- one that depends upon or is a consequent of the other variable and vice versa

2. Extraneous variable:
Independent variables that are not related to the purpose of the study, but may affect the dependent variable

3. Control: A good research design should minimise the influence or effect of extraneous variable(s).

4. Confounded relationship: When the dependent variable is not free from the influence of extraneous variable(s), the relationship between the dependent and independent variables is said to be confounded by an extraneous variable(s).

5. Research hypothesis: When a prediction or a hypothesised relationship is to be tested by scientific methods. The research hypothesis is a predictive statement that relates an independent variable to a dependent variable. Usually a research hypothesis must contain, at least, one independent and one dependent variable.

6. Experimental and non-experimental hypothesis-testing research:
o Hypothesis Testing : When the purpose of research is to test a research hypothesis
o Experimental Hypothesis Testing: - where independent variable is manipulated and where it is not manipulated becomes a ‘non-experimental hypothesis-testing research’.

7. Experimental and control groups:
ABA 431- Research Methods for Business Management Page 28 of 46
o Control Group- an experimental hypothesis-testing research where a group is exposed to usual conditions
o Experimental Group : when the group is exposed to some novel or special

8. Treatments: The different conditions under which experimental and control groups are exposed eg. ‘Study Programmes’ and ‘Special Study Programmes

9. Experiment: The process of examining the truth of a statistical hypothesis, relating to some research problem

10. Experimental unit(s): The pre-determined plots or the blocks, where different treatments are
Used. Such experimental units must be selected (defined) very carefully.
Kavungya answered the question on March 7, 2019 at 07:30


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