Construction of a Research Design

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Components:

1.    Observations or Measures
2.    Treatments or Programs
3.    Groups
4.     Assignment to Group

Characteristics of Good Design

  • Theory-Grounded: Reflects the theories which are being investigated
  • Situational: Indicates the settings or conditions of the investigation
  • Feasible: Can be implemented
  • Redundant: Provides multiple processing particularly for validation
  • Efficient: Maintains a balance between redundancy and the tendency to over-design

Examples of Research Design

  1. Laboratory Experiments (JIS, ASTM, Euro, PNS, etc) and Regression Analysis
  2. Prototyping and Descriptive Statistics

Methodology Sample

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Researchers are often taught only two types of methods of approach, either quantitative where experimental genre is classified or qualitative often times at the exclusion of other probable combination of methods.

A. Research Design

The basic research method used in this study is a combination of approaches, experimental and participatory, the latter in a way there was a first hand interaction with the beneficiaries of the study prior to the design of the output product with the experimental phase to follow.

B. Procedures

The researchers interviewed the Aetas of sitio Mabilog in Bamban, Tarlac as to the agricultural produce as an aid to the study on the design approach. Research data was sourced, collected and collated accordingly before the design of the solar dehydrator for its intended users.

What is Conceptual Framework

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Conceptual and theoretical framework needs to be consistent and related.

Conceptual framework

  • It is a complete presentation of the variables to be observed in the current study.
  • It is the ideas defined in a way the researcher wants.
  • It is understood in the current research, the operationalization of the variables-concepts, the visible indicators or the variables-concepts, the scheme of measuring the variables.
  • It focuses on the specific stipulative and operational definition of concepts and variables with respect to the particular research problem.

Sample Conceptual Framework

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Conceptual Framework

The basis for conceptualizing the technology of food dehydration process’ inclusion in the high school curriculum and in the vocational course offering is to provide an option window for secondary level students to acquire skills and knowledge aside from the basics taught in the other subjects that can lead to a path to entrepreneurship and income generation. Prior to the revision of the basic secondary curriculum, the focus was preparing students for higher education less in knowledge base which required critical thinking skills rather than occupational learning.

Paradigm

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The paradigm illustrates the conceptual framework of the study and how dehydration technology can be incorporated in the school curriculum and proper application.

The incorporation in the secondary curriculum and its proper application with the end recipient of the study to be the school and its stakeholders as such opening a pathway to career and lifelong education.

By: Engr. Mary Rose Florence S. Cobar, Doctor of Philosophy in Education
Thesis title: “Development of a Source Material in Food Dehydration Craft Technology for the Secondary Schools”

Sample Theoretical Framework

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Theoretical Framework

Integration of technology and vocational components in the basic and general education curriculum in the Asia-Pacific region have attracted increased attention among the regions’ policy makers with the aim of raising the quality of learners and graduates and empowering them for life long learning hindered by an over crowded curricula. In the Philippines, entrepreneurship development was introduced in schools and a restructured curriculum implemented that makes use of innovative, interdisciplinary and integrative modes of instruction delivery open to revision by schools allowed to redesign and contextualize the Makabayan subject.

Curriculum development, being a dynamic process, can be an effective vehicle in the continuing integration of a focused course of learning objectives and eliminate weak general education or described as a shopping mall curriculum. Through skillful school management of systems, curriculum integration of academic and occupational education can be articulated in a sequence of competency based courses such a food science and craft technology, management of integrating a discipline at this level will therefore aim to balance between breadth and depth to provide students life long learning outcomes putting to good use resources whenever possible and appropriate.

Student empowerment has become a new concern in school management. Lowe (1995) defines empowerment as a process of which an individual have the motivation and skills necessary to perform their responsibilities a sense of achievement in the performed tasks in school. This can be learned and put to practice by the student through competencies incorporated in the integrated course that will enable the student to find answers to challenges in performing the tasks required by the subject.

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By: Engr. Mary Rose Florence S. Cobar, Doctor of Philosophy in Education
Thesis title: “Development of a Source Material in Food Dehydration Craft Technology for the Secondary Schools”

Creating Theoretical Framework

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Theoretical Framework is a compilation of organized concepts or ideas. It guides the research to determine what thing will be measured and what statistical relationship will be looked for.

Different theories, models, paradigms, perspective related to the problem and the hypothesis are presented as perform of research.

First of all, the researcher must consider the field of knowledge in which the problem statement can be categorized.  Then, decides to focus on one or more theories.

Other way is to practice it is to change the theory into new general framework containing the variables and relationships for the purposes of the research to be undertaken.

When writing a theoretical framework, it is important to mention the theory that will be used by giving the assumptions, defining terms-concepts, identifying variables, and stating the relationship of variables and presenting hypothesis.

Theoretical framework is use to limit the scope of the relevant data by focusing on specific variables and specifying the specific frame or viewpoint that the researcher will take in analysis, and interpreting the data that will be gathered, understanding concepts and variable according to the given definitions, and building knowledge by validating the theory.  It helps when the variables and proposed relationship are illustrated by drawing a chart.

Click here for sample theoretical framework.

Hypothesis: Forms and Samples

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Hypothesis is a wise guess prepared and temporarily adopted to explain the observed factors covered by the study.  It is a tentative conclusion or answer to a specific question raised at the beginning of the investigation.

Hypothesis helps the researcher in designing the study such as the methods, research instruments, and sampling design to be used as well as the data to be gathered. It also use as bases for determining assumptions and for the explanation about the data gathered.

Forms of Hypothesis

  • Operational Form – It is stated in the affirmative.  It states that there is a difference between two phenomena
  • Null Form – It is stated in the negative. It states that there is no difference between the two phenomena. It is more commonly used.

Examples:

Question:
Is there any significant difference between the perceptions of the teachers and those of the students concerning the different aspects in the teaching of science?

Operational hypothesis
There is a significant difference between the perceptions of the teachers and those of the students concerning the different aspects in the teaching of science.

Null hypothesis
There is no significant difference between the perceptions of the teachers and those of the students concerning the different aspects in the teaching of science.

Variables: Types and Characteristics

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Variable is a quantity or a characteristic that has or more mutually exclusive values or properties of objects or people that can be classified, measured or labeled in different ways.

Types of Variables

  1. Discrete Variable – only a finite or potentially countable set of values.
  2. Continuous Variable – an infinite set of values between any two levels of the variables.  They are result of measurement.
  3. Independent Variable – a stimulus variable which is chosen by the researcher to determine its relationship to an observed phenomena.
  4. Dependent Variable – a response variable which is observed and measured to determine the effect of the independent variable.
  5. Moderate Variable – a secondary or special type of independent variable chosen by the researcher to ascertain if it alters or modifies.
  6. Control Variable – a variable controlled by the research in which the effects can be neutralized by removing the variable.
  7. Intervening Variable – a variable which interferes with the independent and dependent variables, but its effects can either strengthen or weaken the independent and dependent variables.

Characteristics of Variable

1.    Capable of assuming several values representing a certain category.
2.    Values that may arise from counting and or from measurement.
3.    Raw data or figures gathered by a research for statistical purposes.
4.    Predicted values of one variable on the basis of another
5.    Observable characteristic of a person or objects being studied.

Related Literature and Studies Characteristics

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Related literature and studies help the researcher understand his topic better because it may clarify vague points about his problem. It also guides the researcher in making comparisons between his findings with the findings of other similar studies. So it is necessary that the related materials should have true value.  I listed some characteristics of related literature and studies for your guidelines.

  • The related materials should be as recent as possible. It is important that reviewed materials must be new or fresh because of the rapid change in technology, social, economic, scientific and human lifestyle.
  • Reviewed materials should be objective and unbiased. Avoid reviewed materials that is extremely political or religious or onesided.
  • Surveyed materials should be related to the study. Relevant or similar materials to the research must be reviewed.
  • The reviewed materials should be based upon genuinely original and true facts or data must be valid and reliable. Avoid materials where fictitious data are supplied just to complete the research report because it is hard to prove.
  • Reviewed materials should not be too few and too many. The researcher should provide sufficient enough reviewed materials to give insight into the research problem or to indicate the nature of the present studies. However, the number may also depend upon the availability of related materials.

Some Sources of Related Literature and Studies

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Related literature and studies plays important rule in your thesis or dissertation because it serve as a foundation of the proposed study.  Related literature is composed of discussions of facts and principles to which the present study is related while related studies are studies, inquiries or investigations already conducted to which the present proposed study is related or has similarity.

The following are sources of related literature and studies

  • Books, encyclopedias, almanacs and other similar references
  • Unpublished thesis and dissertations
  • Reports from seminars
  • Official reports from educational, social, economic, scientific, political, etc from the government and other entities
  • Constitution and laws
  • Bulletins, circulars and orders derive from government offices and departments.
  • Records of schools, public and private
  • Articles published in professional journals, magazines, periodicals, newspapers and other publications
  • Manuscripts, monographs, memoirs, speeches, letters and diaries

Usually, the sources of related literature and studies are found in the libraries, government and private offices, and national library.