ABSTRACT
A fter we select a topic and review the literature, we are ready to begin con-structing a research plan. A research design serves as a blueprint for the project and must be detailed when proposing a topic for a thesis or applying for a grant. A research design involves several stages: (1) developing concepts that are derived from ideas, theories, or prior research; (2) taking those concepts and translating them into measurable variables (operationalizing concepts); (3) selecting the most appropriate research method to gather data (surveys, experiments, field methods, content analysis, etc.) based on the goals of the project (to describe, explain, predict, explore, or evaluate); (4) choosing a sampling strategy for deciding whom or what we want to study (the units of analysis) and over what period of time
(longitudinal across time or a one-time cross-sectional study); (5) planning how to collect the data and who will do it; (6) deciding on the relevant statistical and analytical tools to make sense of the findings and observations; and (7) describing plans for interpreting and analyzing the results and writing a final report, article, or policy recommendation. A detailed budget should also be included as part of a research design (especially for a grant or funding agency) and specify everything from the costs of duplicating questionnaires to phone calls, supplies, salaries for researchers and those doing the data collection, computer data entry and software, travel expenses, and other related items. The remaining chapters of the book explore these steps in the research design process as they apply in particular to survey research methods.
