Section 6 Research Design Compatibility Mode 
Research Design
FIGURE 6.1
Mgt 540
Research Methods
Research
Design
1
2
Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Sekaran/RESEARCH 4E
Elements of Research Design
Research Design
FIGURE 6.2
Choices are dictated by:
Research Question
Extent of rigor needed
Facility and resources available
Function of:
Purpose of study
Exploratory, Descriptive, Hypothesis Testing
Type of study
Causal, correlational
Setting
Field, Field Experiment, Lab
3
4
Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Sekaran/RESEARCH 4E
Purpose of Research
Exploratory
Types of Investigation
Broad
Correlational (associations)
Increase general understanding of context “Are smoking and cancer related?”
Causal (directional)
Descriptive
“Does smoking cause cancer?”
Identify variables
Identify relationships
Hypothesis testing
Analytical or Predictive
Usually requires manipulating the precedent variable
Focused
Varying degrees of manipulation
Controlling the independent variable
Usually requires longitudinal study
Nature of relationships
Nature of (explanation) of variations of the variables 5
6
1
Research Settings
Units of Analysis
Natural
Directly related to the research question Field Studies
Field Experiment
Individual
Dyads
Contrived
2 persons
Lab Experiment
Bi-directional interaction
Groups
More than 2 persons
Multi-directional interactions
7
8
Scenario #1
Time
A manager is intrigued why some people seem to derive joy from work and get energized by it, while others find it troublesome and frustrating.
Cross Sectional
Point in time
Identify the purpose of the study
Longitudinal
Correlational
The type of investigation
Time Series
Hypothesis testing
Continual
Incremental
Cross-Sectional
The extent of researcher interference
Minimal
The study setting
Field study
The time horizon for the study
One-shot (cross-sectional)
The unit of analysis
9
Scenario #2
Would this be a causal or correlational study?
Causal
Is this exploratory, descriptive, or
FIGURE 6.1
Mgt 540
Research Methods
Research
Design
1
2
Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Sekaran/RESEARCH 4E
Elements of Research Design
Research Design
FIGURE 6.2
Choices are dictated by:
Research Question
Extent of rigor needed
Facility and resources available
Function of:
Purpose of study
Exploratory, Descriptive, Hypothesis Testing
Type of study
Causal, correlational
Setting
Field, Field Experiment, Lab
3
4
Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Sekaran/RESEARCH 4E
Purpose of Research
Exploratory
Types of Investigation
Broad
Correlational (associations)
Increase general understanding of context “Are smoking and cancer related?”
Causal (directional)
Descriptive
“Does smoking cause cancer?”
Identify variables
Identify relationships
Hypothesis testing
Analytical or Predictive
Usually requires manipulating the precedent variable
Focused
Varying degrees of manipulation
Controlling the independent variable
Usually requires longitudinal study
Nature of relationships
Nature of (explanation) of variations of the variables 5
6
1
Research Settings
Units of Analysis
Natural
Directly related to the research question Field Studies
Field Experiment
Individual
Dyads
Contrived
2 persons
Lab Experiment
Bi-directional interaction
Groups
More than 2 persons
Multi-directional interactions
7
8
Scenario #1
Time
A manager is intrigued why some people seem to derive joy from work and get energized by it, while others find it troublesome and frustrating.
Cross Sectional
Point in time
Identify the purpose of the study
Longitudinal
Correlational
The type of investigation
Time Series
Hypothesis testing
Continual
Incremental
Cross-Sectional
The extent of researcher interference
Minimal
The study setting
Field study
The time horizon for the study
One-shot (cross-sectional)
The unit of analysis
9
Scenario #2
Would this be a causal or correlational study?
Causal
Is this exploratory, descriptive, or