Part I. Preliminary considerations : 1. A framework for design : Three elements of inquiry ; Three approaches to research ; Criteria for selecting an approach -- 2. Review of the literature : Identifying a topic ; A researchable topic ; Purpose of the literature review ; Literature reviews in qualitative, quantitative, and mixed method research ; Design techniques ; Style manuals ; A model for writing the literature review -- 3. Writing strategies and ethical considerations : Writing the proposal ; Central arguments to make ; Writing tips ; Ethical issues to anticipate -- Part II. Designing research : 4. The introduction : The importance of introductions ; Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods introductions ; A model for an introduction -- 5. The purpose statement : Significance and meaning of a purpose statement ; A qualitative purpose statement ; A quantitative purpose statement ; A mixed methods purpose statement -- 6. Research questions and hypotheses : Qualitative research questions ; Quantitative research questions and hypotheses ; Mixed method research questions and hypotheses -- 7. The use of theory : Quantitative theory-use ; Qualitative theory-use ; Mixed methods theory-use -- 8. Definitions, limitations, and significance : The definition of terms ; Delimitations and limitations ; Significance of the proposed study -- 9. Quantitative methods : Defining surveys and experiments ; Components of a survey method plan ; Components of an experimental method plan ; Threats to validity -- 10. Qualitative procedures : The characteristics of qualitative research ; Strategies of inquiry ; The researcher's role ; Data collection procedures ; Data recording procedures ; Data analysis and interpretation ; Validating the accuracy of findings ; The qualitative narrative -- 11. Mixed methods procedures : Components of mixed methods procedures ; The nature of mixed methods research ; Types of mixed methods strategies ; Alternative strategies and visual models ; Data collection procedures ; Data analysis and validation procedures ; Report presentation structure.

This book addresses these issues by providing a guide to major design decisions, such as deciding a paradigm, stating a purpose for the study, identifying the research questions and hypotheses, using theory, and defining and stating the significance of the study. Each chapter is organized to first present the principles about composing and writing qualitative and quantitative approaches followed by specific examples from journal articles and dissertations from a variety of fields within the social and human sciences. Each chapter concludes with writing exercises that relate back to these formats so that the reader can end the book with a written plan for a scholarly study. Research Design is aimed at upper division to graduate level research methods courses that are taught to prepare students to plan and write up independent research studies.