Questions on Research Design

Running head: QUESTIONS ON RESEARCH DESIGN 1
Questions on Research Design
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation

QUESTIONS ON RESEARCH DESIGN 2
Question One
According to Van Wyk (2012), research design is a plan that is used to answer the
research questions using the empirical research. It identifies the data, method, and analysis to be
conducted. Some other researchers define research design as a method that is used to test a
hypothesis formulated from the research questions identified (Van Wyk, 2012). A research
design is conducted using different types. These various types depend on the kind of research
being done (Van Wyk, 2012). For example, cross sectional studies are used when data is
collected at a particular time while longitudinal studies are conducted when data is collected
more than once.
Question Two
Introduction
Research is essential in examining features in daily lives. Most researchers carry out their
investigations using different research methods. Initially, the research process begins with the
establishment of a hypothesis. As mentioned earlier, the research design is used to validate the
hypothesis. The research design is done using different studies such as cross sectional,
longitudinal, explanatory and descriptive studies.
Cross Sectional Studies
The first type of research design is cross sectional studies. Sedgwick (2014) defines
cross sectional studies as studies that provide an estimate of the proportion of a population that
has a particular disease, which is the disease's prevalence, at a specific time. The study is
observational (Hemed, 2015). In this case, the researchers do not intervene but merely record the
characteristics of the participants such as health and attitude. One of the advantages of a cross
sectional study is that it is cheap, but it is disadvantageous since it does not show causation

QUESTIONS ON RESEARCH DESIGN 3
(Hemed, 2015). The lack of follow up since the data is collected at a particular time makes it
cheaper.
The other characteristics of cross-sectional studies are discussed below. In cross-sectional
studies, data is collected at a particular time, but recruitment of the participants may take time
(Sedgwick, 2014). For example, a cross-sectional study to determine the prevalence of chronic
fatigue and related exposures (mental health and gender disadvantages) in Goa, India was
conducted (Sedgwick, 2014). In the study, the participants were recruited between November
2001 and May 2003. The selection of the participants is made using random sampling (Hemed,
2015). This selection ensures each has an equal chance of participating.
Longitudinal Studies
The second type of research design is longitudinal studies. According to Lynn (2009),
longitudinal studies entail collection of data on a sample of the population for multiple times.
These studies are also observational. For example, in 2004, The Survey of Health Ageing and
Retirement in Europe was a longitudinal study where data were collected among 30000 people
aged above fifty years (Lynn, 2009). Additionally, the type of longitudinal studies varies such as
cohort, representatives, and linked panels (Lynn, 2009). The method of data collection, the
population, and research topics are some of the factors that determine the type of longitudinal
study.
Longitudinal studies have both advantages and disadvantages. One of the benefits is that
they establish a causal relationship, unlike the cross sectional studies. The second advantage is
patterns can be derived from studying the sequence of events (Caruana et al., 2015). Moreover,
they allow the researcher to observe the changes over an extended period. The first disadvantage
is that the studies are expensive (Caruana et al., 2015). The huge expense is attributed to the