Question

What is the purpose of a research design in a quantitative research study?

Answer 1

To answer this question first we need to know what is actually Research design. Whenever an study or research happens, the researcher selects a proper framework including the overall process and different techniques that he/she is going to use for the study which allows them to refine themselves in the methods that are most appropriate for the success of that particular subject. That framework or structure of work is called Research design. It helps in gathering and evaluating the values of the variables used in the research. In simple words, research design is nothing but the overall strategy that the researcher choose to connect the different bits of findings in the study and come up with a logical solution to the research problem. We can broadly categorize it in: Data collection, measurement, and analysis

Research design is extensively used in quantitative research study because it ensures that the information drawn will accurately address the research problem. Without research design, the drawn evidence would not be considered convincing and would not be strong enough to address the research problem. It is the one thing that tells us about the type and sub-type of research. As I mentioned earlier its main purpose is to provide a proper layout that enables the researcher to accuarately determine the cause-effect relation between both the dependent and independent variables of the quantative research.

The purpose of a research design is to provide a plan of study that permits accurate assessment of cause and effect relationships between independent and dependent variables. For instance classic controlled experiment is good example of what research design is and what is it's purpose in a quantative research.