Bryman, Chapter 3: Research Designs
A research design provides a framework for the collecton and analysis of data, emphasis on
different dimensions of the research proeect
Research Method: technique for collectng data
Variable: Atribute on which cases vary; Interdependent variables are considered to have a
causal infuence on dependent variables
Constant: An atribute which does not vary
Quality criteria of quanttatve research:
o Reliability
Are the results of a study repeatable?
How consistent are measurement methods of concepts such as poverty,
racial preeudice, and religious orthodoxy?
Is a measure stable?
o Replicaton
Some research result are replicated, e.g. because they do not match other
existng research
Therefore researchers must describe their methods and procedure in a very
detailed way
o Validity
Integrity of conclusions
Measurement validity: quanttatve research; Do the chosen methods really
refect the concepts?; related to stability RReliability2 of a concept
Internal Validity: Causality, causal relatonships between two variables
External Validity: can the results of a study be generalized beyond the
specifc research context? Rapplied to the whole populaton2
Ecological Validity: Are the fndings applicable to people’s everyday life?
Inferental Validity: Interpretatons in the frame of the research design used?
Quality criteria of qualitatve research:
o Credibility: How believable are the fnding?
o Transferability: Do the fndings apply to other contexts?
o Dependability: Are the fndings likely to apply at other tmes?
o Confrmability: Has the researcher allowed his or her values to intrude to a high
degree?
Research Designs
1. Experimental Design
o True experiments are very strong in terms of internal validity
o Interdependent variable is manipulated, however most variables in social research
cannot be manipulated Re.g. gender2
o Distncton between laboratory and feld experiments
o Randomized experiment / randomized controlled trial RRTC2: treatment group
Rreceives experimental treatment2 and control group; Observaton made in relaton
to the dependent variable, Experimental treatment Rinterdependent variable2,
Timing of the observatons in relaton to the dependent variable; aim is to test
alternatve ways of handling situatons
o Control groups eliminate rival explanatons
o Academic performance may have been measured inadequately
A research design provides a framework for the collecton and analysis of data, emphasis on
different dimensions of the research proeect
Research Method: technique for collectng data
Variable: Atribute on which cases vary; Interdependent variables are considered to have a
causal infuence on dependent variables
Constant: An atribute which does not vary
Quality criteria of quanttatve research:
o Reliability
Are the results of a study repeatable?
How consistent are measurement methods of concepts such as poverty,
racial preeudice, and religious orthodoxy?
Is a measure stable?
o Replicaton
Some research result are replicated, e.g. because they do not match other
existng research
Therefore researchers must describe their methods and procedure in a very
detailed way
o Validity
Integrity of conclusions
Measurement validity: quanttatve research; Do the chosen methods really
refect the concepts?; related to stability RReliability2 of a concept
Internal Validity: Causality, causal relatonships between two variables
External Validity: can the results of a study be generalized beyond the
specifc research context? Rapplied to the whole populaton2
Ecological Validity: Are the fndings applicable to people’s everyday life?
Inferental Validity: Interpretatons in the frame of the research design used?
Quality criteria of qualitatve research:
o Credibility: How believable are the fnding?
o Transferability: Do the fndings apply to other contexts?
o Dependability: Are the fndings likely to apply at other tmes?
o Confrmability: Has the researcher allowed his or her values to intrude to a high
degree?
Research Designs
1. Experimental Design
o True experiments are very strong in terms of internal validity
o Interdependent variable is manipulated, however most variables in social research
cannot be manipulated Re.g. gender2
o Distncton between laboratory and feld experiments
o Randomized experiment / randomized controlled trial RRTC2: treatment group
Rreceives experimental treatment2 and control group; Observaton made in relaton
to the dependent variable, Experimental treatment Rinterdependent variable2,
Timing of the observatons in relaton to the dependent variable; aim is to test
alternatve ways of handling situatons
o Control groups eliminate rival explanatons
o Academic performance may have been measured inadequately
