ABSTRACT
The phrase ‘‘research design’’ denotes both a process and a product aimed at facilitating the construction of sound arguments. An argument is a logical structure that marshalls both evidence and reasons why that evidence supports some claim or point. A sound argument is one that supports its claim in a way which is, even in the eyes of a skeptical and well-informed audience, credible and useful to the greatest degree feasible given the resources we have available for gathering and analyzing evidence in support of that claim. Research involves using a transparent and systematic approach to conducting inquiries that answer questions and solve problems by means of claims that are supported well enough to be treated reasonably as knowledge rather than mere assertion. The process of designing research can be difficult and at times frustrating-messy, seemingly inefficient, nonlinear, and even repetitive. If we invest the time and effort to do research design well, however, the resulting plan for conducting research will allow us to be more orderly, efficient, and linear in amassing and interpreting evidence and using it to construct a sound argument. If we design research poorly or not at all, we may get lucky and be able to generate a valid argument anyway, or we may be unlucky and end up having conducted an investigation that fails to support a claim adequately. Well-designed research leaves less to chance and thereby reduces the risk of wasting time and effort on pointless research.
