Research Design

The two functions served by a research design are to answer the research questions as objectively, validly, and economically as possible, and to suggest to the researcher how to collect data for testing hypotheses, which variables should be treated as control variables, what methods of manipulation will be more adequate in a particular context, what types of statistical analyses should be done, and finally, a possible answer to the research problems.

A research design, after moving through the sequence of different related steps, enables the researcher to draw a valid and objective answer to research problems by suggesting how to collect data for testing hypotheses, determining which variables should be treated as control variables, identifying more adequate methods of manipulation in a particular context, recommending types of statistical analyses, and providing a possible answer to the research problems.

Research problems are usually epitomized by the hypotheses.

The important function served by any research design is to answer the research questions as objectively, validly, and economically as possible.

The purpose of a research design is to provide a maximum amount of information relevant to the problem under investigation at a minimum cost.