Can you imagine researching a topic without having a research design in mind? Probably not. Following a research design is important because it guides all the research processes, i.e., data collection and evaluation. It is the design that addresses the research problem and creates a consistent model for data analysis. Considering this, today’s article is about a research design that is not popular much in academic research, but it is very useful. That research design is fixed research.
Do you not have an idea about this research design? Do not worry; today’s article is going to explain it in detail. There will also be a mention of its role in academic research and, most importantly, how fixed research is conducted. So, let’s start today’s article by defining this research design first.
What is fixed research design?
A fixed study design is a design with fixed data gathering tools. It has a set timescale and location before the data collection begins. Moreover, this research design does not allow you to amend or make any single change in the research process after the initialisation of the process. This research design is often used in quantitative research, where experimentation is the mode of research. It is why this design is also called experimental research design.
A fixed research design is important in many ways. In a fixed study design, you have set your research aims and objectives at the start of the research process. So, having such well-planned research designs helps you ensure that your methods match research aims. It also allows you to collect high-quality data related to your topic. All these things make this design important. Further, getting PhD dissertation help is also important for it.
What is the role of fixed study in academic research?
A fixed study design is an academic research design in which you explore and perform an in-depth investigation of a topic by defining the tools, time, and location before conducting the research. This research plays an important role as it serves as a road map for the researchers to study the topic. It helps the researchers understand clearly how to collect the data and where they need to collect it. Along with this, fixed research also plays its role in academic research by telling the researchers when they need to collect the reading. For example, you are conducting a test in the lab. The research design tells you to take the reading of the test after every one hour. This fixed-time research is a fixed study design, and it is how it plays its role in academic research.
How to conduct fixed research?
From the discussion above, you have a pretty good idea of fixed research and its role in academic research. Now is the time to discuss how to conduct this research effectively. There are a number of steps involved in this research. However, a brief description of the major steps is as follows:
1. Consider your research aims
Before you start designing your research, it is important to have a clear understanding of the research aims and questions. For example, the research question is, “How does measuring the soil permeability an indication of its swell potential?” Now, there will be many methods that can answer this question. However, you should also keep your research aims in mind and decide on the method based on those aims. So, always start by thinking carefully about what you want to achieve.
2. Identify the population and sampling method
So, you have taken the research aims into consideration and decided that a fixed study design is a design to go with; good selection. As you know, a fixed design has everything fixed from the start, so the next step includes the identification of the population and sampling method. Ensure that you choose the sampling method that can answer all the research questions and is representative of the population. It is necessary because you cannot change it during the research process. So, decide whether the probability sampling method is good or non-probability sampling.
3. Choose data collection methods
Data collection methods are the ways that you exercise in research to gather information about the research variables directly. Such methods allow you to gain first-hand information about the research topic. So, in the third step, choose your intended data collection method. Additionally, choose the location and time of reading too at this stage. The reason is that you cannot change these things once the research starts. In the fixed research design, the experimentation method of data collection is mostly used. However, you can also use other methods as long as you remain within the boundaries of this research design.
4. Plan your data analysis methods
Step no. 4 is about planning the data analysis of your research results. It is necessary because raw data alone cannot answer your research questions. You have to use some kind of analysis techniques like regression analysis, cross-tabulation, or ANOVA test. You must be thinking about why planning it is important at this stage when the research has not started. It is necessary because this is a fixed study design. You cannot manipulate anything in the research.
5. Conduct the research and present the results
The 5th or last step tells you to conduct the test. It is because you have planned, designed, and developed everything needed to run the research process. So, go to the decided location, set your instrument, and start the research process at the chosen time. Ensure taking the readings at equal intervals, which you have defined before. Once done with this, apply the chosen analysis techniques and present the results in the form of a thesis or a dissertation.
Conclusion
Fixed research is the research that has everything fixed from the very start. It has fixed data gathering tools, reading time, and research location. It is important to plan and decide on your data collection and analysis methods prior to the research. You will not be able to change them amid the research process. Good Luck with your research.
