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* *Notification Out UGC-NET December 2026*

⏰ *Last Date:* 28 October 2026

✏️ *Correction Date:* 02 to 04 November 2026

📝 *Exam Date:* 14 to 19 December 2026

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* *Notification Out UGC-NET December 2026*

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✏️ *Correction Date:* 02 to 04 November 2026

📝 *Exam Date:* 14 to 19 December 2026

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* *Notification Out UGC-NET December 2026*

⏰ *Last Date:* 28 October 2026

✏️ *Correction Date:* 02 to 04 November 2026

📝 *Exam Date:* 14 to 19 December 2026

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📚JRF TOPIC --5

PROFESSOR ADDA INSTITUTE
🎯 UGC NET/JRF PAPER 1 – UNIT 2
📖 RESEARCH APTITUDE – RESEARCH DESIGN + MCQs

SOLVE MCQ TEST IN 🔚 of notes 👇🏻 Get notes 👇🏻 wa.me/+917230964006?text=PAGsend_me_notes_my_subject_is_📑

🔹 Topic 5. *RESEARCH DESIGN*
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📌 Meaning of Research Design

Research design is the overall plan, structure, and strategy used by a researcher to answer research questions and achieve research objectives.

💡 Professor Adda Exam Tip: Research Design = Blueprint of Research.

🎯 Functions of Research Design:
1️⃣ Provides a clear plan for conducting research.
2️⃣ Helps select appropriate methods and tools.
3️⃣ Specifies the process of data collection and analysis.
4️⃣ Helps control bias and errors.
5️⃣ Saves time, money, and effort.

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🔹 6. TYPES OF RESEARCH DESIGN
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1️⃣ Exploratory Research Design

▪️ Used when the research problem is not clearly understood.
▪️ Helps generate ideas and formulate hypotheses.
▪️ Common methods: Literature review, interviews and focus groups.

📌 Example: Exploring why students are losing interest in online education.

2️⃣ Descriptive Research Design

▪️ Describes the characteristics of a population or situation.
▪️ Answers: What? Who? When? Where?
▪️ Common methods: Surveys and observation.

📌 Example: Studying the percentage of students using digital learning platforms.

3️⃣ Experimental Research Design

▪️ Examines cause-and-effect relationships.
▪️ Involves manipulation of an independent variable.
▪️ Often uses control and experimental groups.

📌 Example: Testing whether a new teaching method improves examination scores.

4️⃣ Correlational Research Design

▪️ Examines the relationship between two or more variables.
▪️ Does not, by itself, establish causation.

📌 Example: Studying the relationship between study hours and examination marks.

🔥 Exam Trick: Correlation does not necessarily imply causation.

5️⃣ Ex-post Facto Research Design

▪️ Investigates possible causes of an existing outcome.
▪️ The researcher does not manipulate the suspected cause.

📌 Example: Investigating the relationship between previous schooling and present academic achievement.

6️⃣ Case Study Design

▪️ Intensive and detailed study of an individual, group, institution or event.

📌 Example: Studying one school that has achieved exceptional academic results.

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🔹 7. IMPORTANT EXPERIMENTAL DESIGNS
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1️⃣ Pre-experimental Design

▪️ Provides limited control over extraneous variables.
▪️ Example: One-group pre-test and post-test design.

2️⃣ True Experimental Design

▪️ Generally involves manipulation, a control/comparison group and random assignment.

▪️ Example: Randomly assigning students to experimental and control groups.

3️⃣ Quasi-experimental Design

▪️ Involves an intervention but lacks random assignment to conditions.

▪️ Example: Comparing two existing classrooms, one using a new teaching method and the other using the usual method.

💡 Professor Adda Exam Tip:
True Experimental = Random assignment
Quasi-experimental = No random assignment
Pre-experimental = Relatively limited control

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🔹 8. STEPS IN RESEARCH DESIGN
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1️⃣ Identification and formulation of the research problem
2️⃣ Review of related literature
3️⃣ Formulation of research objectives and questions
4️⃣ Development of hypotheses, where appropriate
5️⃣ Selection of research design and methodology
6️⃣ Identification of population and sampling technique
7️⃣ Selection of research tools and instruments
8️⃣ Data collection
9️⃣ Data analysis and interpretation
🔟 Drawing conclusions and writing the research report

📌 Remember: The exact sequence can vary depending on the research approach and design.

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🔹 9. OTHER IMPORTANT RESEARCH DESIGN CONCEPTS
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📍 Research Problem: The issue or question that the researcher wants to investigate.

📍 Hypothesis: A tentative, testable statement about a relationship or difference between variables.

📍 Null Hypothesis (H₀): Usually states that there is no effect, difference or relationship of the specified kind.

📍 Alternative Hypothesis (H₁/Ha): States that an effect, difference or relationship exists, as specified.

📍 Independent Variable: The factor manipulated or treated as the predictor.

📍 Dependent Variable: The outcome being measured.

📍 Extraneous Variable: A variable other than the main independent variable that may influence the outcome.

📍 Control Group: A comparison group that does not receive the experimental intervention, or receives the standard condition.

📍 Experimental Group: The group receiving the intervention or treatment being investigated.

📍 Confounding Variable: A factor that is associated with the explanatory variable and may distort the apparent relationship with the outcome.


🔹 10. SAMPLING IN RESEARCH
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Probability Sampling:

1️⃣ Simple Random Sampling – Each population member has a known chance of selection.

2️⃣ Systematic Sampling – Selects members at regular intervals after a starting point.

3️⃣ Stratified Random Sampling – Divides the population into strata and samples from each stratum.

4️⃣ Cluster Sampling – Selects groups or clusters from the population.

Non-probability Sampling:

1️⃣ Convenience Sampling – Selects readily available participants.

2️⃣ Purposive Sampling – Selects participants based on specific criteria or research purpose.

3️⃣ Quota Sampling – Selects participants to meet specified category quotas.

4️⃣ Snowball Sampling – Existing participants help recruit further participants.

💡 Professor Adda Exam Tip:
Random selection with known selection probabilities → Probability Sampling.
Selection without random probability-based procedures → Non-probability Sampling.

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📝 PROFESSOR ADDA – RESEARCH DESIGN MCQs

Q1. Research design is best described as:

(A) A list of references
(B) The blueprint or plan of research
(C) The final research report
(D) Only the process of data collection

✅ Answer: (B)

Q2. Which design is most suitable for studying cause-and-effect relationships through manipulation and control?

(A) Descriptive
(B) Experimental
(C) Historical
(D) Correlational

✅ Answer: (B)

Q3. Which design is commonly used to explore an unclear research problem?

(A) Exploratory
(B) Experimental
(C) Descriptive
(D) Ex-post facto

✅ Answer: (A)

Q4. A study examines the relationship between study hours and examination marks without manipulating either variable. This is:

(A) Experimental research
(B) Correlational research
(C) Action research
(D) Historical research

✅ Answer: (B)

Q5. Which design generally uses random assignment to experimental and control groups?

(A) True experimental
(B) Quasi-experimental
(C) Ex-post facto
(D) Descriptive

✅ Answer: (A)

Q6. A researcher compares two existing classrooms without randomly assigning students to groups. This is most likely:

(A) True experimental
(B) Quasi-experimental
(C) Historical
(D) Purely exploratory

✅ Answer: (B)

Q7. The variable manipulated by the researcher is generally called:

(A) Dependent variable
(B) Independent variable
(C) Confounding variable
(D) Outcome variable

✅ Answer: (B)

Q8. Which sampling technique divides a population into subgroups and samples from each subgroup?

(A) Convenience sampling
(B) Snowball sampling
(C) Stratified random sampling
(D) Purposive sampling

✅ Answer: (C)

Q9. Which sampling method is especially useful when participants recruit other participants?

(A) Simple random sampling
(B) Systematic sampling
(C) Snowball sampling
(D) Stratified sampling

✅ Answer: (C)

Q10. The null hypothesis generally states that:

(A) A specified effect or difference exists
(B) No specified effect or difference exists
(C) The sample is always biased
(D) The research must be qualitative

✅ Answer: (B)

Q11. Which design describes the characteristics of a population or current situation?

(A) Descriptive
(B) Experimental
(C) True experimental
(D) Quasi-experimental

✅ Answer: (A)

Q12. Which statement about correlation is correct?

🎯 Amriut REVISION – RESEARCH DESIGN

✅ Research Design = Blueprint
✅ Exploratory = Investigates an unclear problem
✅ Descriptive = Describes the current situation
✅ Experimental = Manipulation and control
✅ Correlational = Relationship between variables
✅ Ex-post Facto = Studies existing outcomes without manipulating the suspected cause
✅ True Experimental = Random assignment
✅ Quasi-experimental = Intervention without random assignment
✅ Independent Variable = Predictor/manipulated factor
✅ Dependent Variable = Measured outcome
✅ Stratified Sampling = Samples from strata
✅ Cluster Sampling = Selects groups or clusters
✅ Snowball Sampling = Participants recruit participants
✅ Null Hypothesis = No specified effect or difference

📚 PROFESSOR ADDA INSTITUTE
🎯 UGC NET | JRF | SET | Assistant Professor

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