The Ultimate Guide to Research Design

Running head: RESEARCH DESIGN 1
Banking Studies Research Design
Name
Institution

RESEARCH DESIGN 2
Banking Studies Research Design
Introduction
The purpose of this paper is to present a clear outline of the methodology that was
pursued in conducting a survey questionnaire study on the nature and importance banking studies
and business administration in the modern-day society. The aim of the study was to establish if
banking studies are effectively taught in learning institutions and whether they equip students
with the required knowledge and capacity needed to adequately perform business and finance
roles. To achieve this aim, a qualitative survey questionnaire was administered to 6 participants
in a bid to learn their perspectives and opinions on the aforementioned issue above. Therefore,
the following subsections outline the methodologies that were pursued in an attempt to fulfill the
aforementioned aim of the study.
Research Design
The research design adopted for this study was the interpretivist philosophy. As
Melnikovas (2018) explains, a research approach entails a researcher’s conviction regarding the
right type of data to collect in a study. The researcher for the current study believed that the most
appropriate type of data to collect was the descriptive and subjective data from human
participants who could provide their personal opinions on the quality of banking studies
administered in learning institutions. Therefore, an interpretivist philosophy was adopted through
administration of qualitative survey questionnaires. The survey questionnaires comprised of
qualitative questions. The central focus of the qualitative questions was to ask the participants
subjective queries and seek their views and opinions on the quality and efficiency of the banking
studies. The researcher ensured not to use qualitative questions in the survey since qualitative

RESEARCH DESIGN 3
questions would only provide statistical data and causality effects, yet the chief aim of the study
was to get a deeper understanding of the current standards of the banking studies.
Rationale of Formatting the Questions in the Survey
The format of the questions in the survey was based on a close-ended format. Saunders,
Lewis, and Thornhill (2016) define a close-ended format as a research design format whereby
each question in a questionnaire consists of a multiple set of answers, numbered in an orderly
manner. The researcher of this study deemed it suitable to use close-ended questions in the
survey due to the need to ease the data analysis process. As Zapata-Barrero and Yalaz (2018)
say, close-ended questions are easy to analyze since the responses can be easily coded using the
numbered labels of the multiple set of choices. Also, close-ended questions are advantageous in a
study that has a short timeframe and requires to be completed as soon as possible, as participants
can easily choose answers from the multiple options provided for every question (Ryan, 2018).
Use of Likert-Scale
A Likert response-scale was used to structure the set of multiple-choice answers for the
close-ended questions in the survey. As Matthews (2017) states, the use of a Likert Scale is very
significant in qualitative studies which aim to measure the different degrees of agreement or
disagreements respondents may have with respect to certain declarations or assertions made in a
survey. The Likert response scale used in the current study measured the varying levels of
agreement or disagreement the participants had in terms of their satisfaction with the quality of
education and support conferred in the banking studies graduate institutions.
Population and Sample
The sample population for this study consisted of 6 female respondents who had recently
graduated from banking studies and business administration secondary schools and learning

RESEARCH DESIGN 4
institutions. The researcher recruited these 6 sample respondents through the convenience
sampling method. As Mehrad and Zangeneh (2019) explain, the convenience sampling method
as a type of non-probability sampling technique that is used to handpick participants whose
characteristics coincide with the requirements of a given research study. The researcher used the
convenience sampling method to select participants who were directly suitable for the study,
hence increasing chances of obtaining more detailed responses from the respondents (Mohajan,
2018). For instance, only students who had recently graduated from banking studies and business
administration graduate institutions were selected to partake in the study since they have
undergone the curriculum/syllabus and are, therefore, best suited to give more detailed insights.
Data Collection Procedure
To begin the data collection, the researcher approved 3 banking studies and business
administration graduate schools and solicited them to liaise with the recently graduated students
for purposes of the research study. Once granted permission, the researcher posted flyers on all
the notice boards in the schools, publicizing the intents of the research study and requesting for
voluntary participation from the students. The researcher inserted his contact details in the flyers
to make it possible for any interested applicant to contact him. 8 students contacted him and
stated their interest to participate in the study. The researcher asked the 8 students to issue him
with their email addresses for purposes of disbursement of the consent forms and survey
questionnaires. Out of the 8 initial applicants, only 6 students signed the consent forms.
Therefore, only the 6 consenting applicants were issued with the questionnaires via their email
addresses. The duration of filling the questionnaires lasted for 14 days, after which the completed
forms were sent back to the researcher for data analysis.
Data Analysis and Descriptive Results