INTRODUCTION: Nabamita

Research design is the structure of the study and it is the overall strategy of the investigator
for answering the research question. It is the entire process of planning and carrying out the
research. In other words, it is the overall scheme of the programme of research.
According to Kerlinger "Research design is the plan, structure and strategy of investigations
to obtain answers to research questions and to control variance". A research design enables
the investigator to answer research questions as valid, objectively, accurately and
economically as possible and to bring empirical evidence to bear on the research problem by
controlling variance. It sets up a framework for the test of relations among variables and
helps to keep the research in the proper direction and to bring empirical evidence to bear on
the research problem by controlling variance. The design of research involves all the major
activities of research right from the identification and selection of the problem to the writing of
the report of the study. After selecting and formulating the problem, we have to decide about
the type of research design to follow. The choice and preparation of research design is an
important step of scientific research. The choice of a design is the decision of the
investigator about how the study will be performed. The various types of designs have
different strengths and weaknesses and some are better for answering some types of
questions than others. The design chosen for the study depends upon what the investigator
wants to know about the phenomenon, its feasibility and the cost involved.

The main function of research design is to control variance. The statistical principle behind
this mechanism is the MAXMINCON principle, that is, Maximise systematic variance, Control
extraneous variance and Minimise error variance. (Kerlinger, 2007).

MAXIMISE SYSTEMATIC VARIANCE: ANKITA

Systematic variance is the variability in the dependent measure due to the manipulation of
the independent variable, referring to a factor intentionally manipulated or controlled by the
researcher. It is called "systematic" because it is deliberately varied systematically to
observe its effects on the dependent variable(s) in an experiment. Systematic variables are
crucial in experiments because they allow researchers to establish cause-and-effect
relationships between variables. By systematically manipulating these variables, researchers
can determine whether changes in the independent variable(s) lead to changes in the
dependent variable(s).
It's important to note that systematic variables should be carefully controlled to ensure that
any observed effects are indeed due to the manipulated variable and not due to other
factors.

For example: we want to know the effect of CBT on people with depression. CBT here is the
independent variable and depression is the dependent variable, ie. we want to see whether
CBT has an effect on depressive people or not. So to study this, we make two groups, the
control group that does not receive any treatment which is the IV and the experimental group
that receives the treatment cbt. After a year we now study the differences between the
depressive condition in the two groups. The change in the condition that we would find in the
experimental group is what we were initially looking for as our aim of the study, and hence
this change or variance in the condition that was initially wanted is known as systematic
variance.
Therefore in any research, the primary aim is to see the maximum effect of this systematic
variance.

MINIMISE ERROR VARIANCE: RIYANKA

Error variance refers to the variability in the dependent variable that is not explained by the
independent variable(s) or factors of interest. This unexplained variability can arise from a
variety of sources, including measurement error, individual differences, and random
fluctuations in the environment. minimising error variance helps ensure that the observed
relationship is not influenced by factors in which the researcher is not interested. To ensure
the integrity of research findings, it is essential to minimize error variance through rigorous
control of extraneous variables, precise measurement instruments, and consistent testing
conditions. By doing so, researchers can enhance the statistical power of their studies, making it
easier to detect the true effects of the independent variables on the dependent variables, thereby
increasing the reliability and validity of their conclusions.
Continuing with the same example, factors like age, sex, personality, attitude, reaction time,
etc which are all part of individual differences, can increase error variance in the study.
However, since the effects of these individual differences on the treatment plan are not the
primary aim, our objective should be to minimize them as much as possible. This can be
achieved by making inclusion and exclusion criteria rigid, like taking participants only within
the age range of 18-25, with no previously diagnosed psychological disorders etc. overall, By
minimizing error variance, researchers can increase the internal validity of their study, making it
more likely that any observed effects are due to the variables of interest rather than extraneous
factors. This, in turn, enhances the credibility and generalizability of the study's findings.

CONTROL EXTRANEOUS VARIANCE:

In research design, extraneous variables are those that are not the focus of the study but could
influence the outcome of the research if not properly controlled. These variables can introduce
error or bias, leading to inaccurate conclusions. It is a critical aspect of research design,
ensuring that the results of a study are attributable to the independent variable rather than other
factors. Extraneous variables, if left uncontrolled, can confound the results, leading to
inaccurate conclusions about the relationship between variables. By controlling extraneous
variables through careful experimental design, standardization of procedures, and statistical
techniques, researchers can increase the internal validity of their studies. This, in turn,
enhances confidence in the findings and allows for more accurate interpretations and
generalizations of the results.
In the same example of studying the effect of CBT on people with depression, the
extraneous variables could be temperature, sound, location, illumination, etc which are the
factors that may affect the outcome of the study, but this effect is something that the
researcher is not interested in, and thus these must be controlled as much as possible since
they cannot be completely removed from the picture.

In conclusion, the principles of maximizing systematic variance, minimizing error variance,

and controlling extraneous variables are fundamental in research design for ensuring the
reliability and validity of study findings. By carefully designing studies to maximize systematic
variance, researchers can enhance their ability to detect meaningful effects or relationships.
Minimizing error variance and controlling extraneous variables helps ensure that observed
effects are accurately attributed to the variables of interest. Overall, these principles
contribute to the robustness of research findings and facilitate more accurate interpretations
and conclusions.