ABSTRACT
In designing a research study, the scientists must make decisions about priorities, identify alternatives and choose options, set and manage budgets, and often hire, motivate and, when necessary, fire research assistants. They receive, give or pass on instructions, develop and write research plans with objectives and strategies, monitor their staff’s performance, and keep higher-level administrators and funding bodies informed about their progress toward achieving their research objectives. In turn, higher-level administrators are often called upon to communicate to internal and external stakeholders about the progress of the researchers in their units. In each of these tasks, political scientists make decisions. This chapter helps researchers understand this process.
