Research Design

A research design is a systematic approach that a researcher uses to conduct a scientific study. It is the overall synchronization of identified components and data resulting in a plausible outcome.  To conclusively come up with an authentic and accurate result, the research design should follow a strategic methodology, in line with the type of research chosen. To have a better understanding of which research paper topic, to begin with, it is imperative to first identify the types of research to start writing a research proposal.

Types of research design

There are many ways to classify research designs. Nonetheless, the list below offers a number of useful distinctions between possible research designs. A research design is an arrangement of conditions or collections.

·         Descriptive (e.g., case-study, naturalistic observation, survey)

·         Correlation (e.g., case-control study, observational study)

·         Semi-experimental (e.g., field experiment, quasi-experiment)

·         Experimental (experiment with random assignment)

·         Review (literature review, systematic review)

·         Meta-analytic (meta-analysis)

 What is a good Research design?

A good research design is characterized by its flexibility, efficiency, appropriateness etcetera. A research design is one that has little to no error. Having a clear objective for research is a reflection of how explicit the research question is. Depending on the research problem, you have to combine a number of design approaches to end up with the required outcome.

How to develop a research design?

1.      Classify the intended outcome of what needs to be understood

2.      Developing the research question

3.      What needs to be measured

4.      Select the population for the experiment

5.      Identify the ideal data collection method

6.      Construct Interrelated characteristics

7.      Use correct analysis tools

8.      Choose a channel for disseminating your findings