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We are gradually coming to an end with the section of Research Designs on Thesis Insight.
Let's have a look at Causal, Historical and Longitudinal Research Designs.

1. Causal Design
This is a research method that focuses on determining the causes and effects relationship between variables. It is normally used to measure the specific impact on existing norms and assumptions.

The following conditions are necessary for establishing causality.
a. A valid conclusion in Causal studies is based on finding an association between independent and dependent variables.
b. In order to conclude for causation in the research, researchers must expose cases to variation in the independent variable before variation in the dependent variable.
c. A relationship between two variables that is not due to variation in a third variable.

Causal research helps researchers in understanding why the world works the way it does through the process of providing a causal link between variables. This research makes replication possible and has internal validity as the result of the systematic subject selection.
Causality can only be inferred but not proven since conclusions about causal relationship are difficult to determine due to the variety of extraneous variables that exist in social environment.

2. Historical Research Design
Historical research focuses on describing and examining past events to understand the present and to anticipate potential effects in the future. This research method uses secondary sources of data such as documentary, reports, official records, diaries hence it cannot be manipulated by the researcher.

The act of the research in this method does not affect the results of the study. It allows researchers to replicate the study and there is often no possibility of researcher-subject interaction that could affect the findings. Historical studies are suitable for trend analysis.

This method requires quality amount of authentic documentation and time to fulfill the aims of the research. This research design is very weak in terms of internal validity due to lack of control of external variables.

3. Longitudinal Research Design
In longitudinal studies, researchers follow participants or group of people over time and makes repeated observations to explain why some changes occur. It describes pattern of change in the research and help establish direction and magnitude of a causal relationship. It is sometimes referred as panel study as researchers observe and take measurements over two or more distinct time periods.

The data involved facilitie the analysis of the duration of a particular phenomenon. It allows researchers to get close to the kind of causal explanation and facilities the prediction of future outcomes based upon earlier finding.

Data collection method in longitudinal studies may change over time and it can be difficult to show more than one variable at a time. It assumes present trends will remained unchanged. This research method requires large sample size and accurate sampling technique. It can take a longer period of time to get results in longitudinal studies.

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Last week on Thesis Insight, we discussed into detail Case Study Design, Cohort Study Design and Cross-Sectional Design.

Let's have a look at the remaining designs into detail.

1. Descriptive Study Design
This research design aims at obtaining information to systematically describe a phenomenon or population without focusing on the "why" a particular phenomenon occurs. Descriptive Design helps provide answer to the questions of who, what, when and how associated with a particular research problem.

Descriptive research is often used as a pre-cursor to more quantitative research designs. It is a useful tool for developing a more focused study when the limitations are well understood.

Descriptive study design often uses observation methods hence the results cannot be replicated and disprove a hypotheses or discover a definitive answer.

2. Experimental Study Design
This is an approach of carrying out research in a controlled manner to maximise precision and specific results. The procedure allows the researcher to control the situation by setting some variables constant.

The method usually answers the question of "what causes something to occur?" It allows researchers to identify causes and effects relationship between variables and provides the highest level of evidence for single studies.

Results from this study may not generalise well to the real world as the setting of experiment may affect the response of participants. This design can be costly if special tools or equipment are needed.

3. Exploratory Study Design
Exploratory design is conducted for research problem where there are few or no past studies for reference. The design is best used to proceed in studying an issue.

The design has the goal of generating new ideas and assumptions and to determine the feasibility of the study in future. The research design is flexible and addresses the questions of what, why and how.

It creates an opportunity for researchers to define new terms and clarify existing concepts. It uses small sample sizes and lacks rigorous standards applied to methods of gathering and analysing. Exploratory design provides insight but not definitive conclusion.

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Let's now dive into each of the research designs.

1. Case Study Design
Case Study Design is an approach which provides an in-depth study of a research problem. This design gives the research the advantage to focus on specific and interesting cases allowing very broad field of research to be narrow down into easily researchable ones.

This design gives room for the selection of a small geographical area or number of people as the subjects of the study while exploring and investigating contemporary phenomenon within its real-life context.
The collective approach of the Case Study Design allow for both qualitative and quantitative approach.

2. Cohort Study Design
This design refers to the research design that follows groups of people United by a similarity over time. Cohort study is a powerful tool used for conducting research in human population and medical researchs to identify risk factors and cause of disease.

It allows the use of both qualitative and quantitative approach. Both primary and secondary data can be used in this research design. Cohort study is time consuming as researchers sometimes must wait for the variable of interest to develop within the group.

3. Cross-Sectional Design
Cross-sectional refers to a research design that analyse data of variables collected from many different individuals at one given point in time. This study design measures only difference between or from variety of people, phenomenon or subjects rather than a process of change.

It focuses on studying and drawing inferences from existing differences between people, phenomenon or subjects, hence the study cannot be used to establish cause and effects relationship.

Cross-sectional studies are mostly qualitative and data involved are gathered through interviews and surveys. Hence the design is relatively inexpensive and take up little time to conduct.

See you next week as we continue with the rest of the research designs.
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Having the right Methodology in a thesis or dissertation depends highly on choosing the right research design.

The choice of the research design also depends on the study objective(s) ensuring that the research problem(s) is/are effectively addressed.

A well chosen design will ensure that
1. Hypotheses are explicitly specify
2. Give account on the data necessary for testing the Hypothesis
3. Provide information on how data will be obtained
4. Outline the methods of analysis in determining the state of the Hypothesis (whether true or false)

There are many research designs for thesis or dissertation. Notable among them are
a. Cohort Design
b. Case Study Design
c. Cross-Sectional Design
d. Causal Design
e. Descriptive Design
f. Experimental Design
g. Exploratory design
h. Longitudinal Design
i. Historical Design
j. Field Research Design
k. Meta-Analysis Design
l. Observational Design
m. Mixed Method Design
n. Philosophical Design
o. Systematic Design
p. Sequential Design

The question of when and how to choose the right design for your research work is very important in writing a successful thesis.

Meet us next week on Thesis Insight as we bring you the details of each design and when and how to choose the right design for your research work.

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