Research design

Research design is a general plan or ‘blueprint’ that will dictate how the research study is to be performed. The researcher will use essential components such as: type of data needed, cost, time, research objectives and target population to decide upon guidelines to be followed during the research study. A good research design should be simple to ensure it is easy to follow and should be written down on paper.

There are three main types of research design, each research design method has different qualities and can be used in different scenarios:

Exploratory design: Is adopted when attempting to discover information and does not pursue a definitive answer. Instead, it covers the research topic in all levels of depth to greater the researcher’s understanding. Exploratory research design can provide the first step in fully understanding a problem or question but is limited in giving a definitive answer.
Descriptive design: Is performed when answering a specific question, often involving a hypothesis. However, it cannot be used to explain the results or to allow the researcher to understand why the research study gave the answers it did. Descriptive research design, however, is also effective at allowing the researcher to analyse the data to gain a greater understanding of the problem.
Experimental (causal): Attempts to measure the effect of manipulating the independent variable on the dependent variable. It is better than descriptive and exploratory design in finding solutions for marketing problems. Experimental research design can limit bias as the study allows the researcher to have better control over the independent, dependent and extraneous variables.

Why partner with DJS Research?

We build small, director-led, teams of sector experts who are with you from brief to debrief. As an employee-owned company, every one of us is invested in delivering quality, value, and long-term impact.

From agile testing to deep-dive strategic studies, we design research to meet your specific objectives. The agility of our in-house operations team and strength of our UK-wide recruiter network enable seamless execution at scale.

Our sector-focused teams have decades of experience understanding audiences and the complexities of the markets in which our clients operate. Working collaboratively we deliver actionable insight which drives positive change.

We are small enough. We are big enough. We are DJS Research

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Contact us today to discuss your next market research project and discover how we could become a valuable extension of your team.

Contact us today to discuss your next market research project and discover how we could become a valuable extension of your team.