Purpose of Guide

Introduction

The research design one develops ultimately establishes which type of study (qualitative or quantitative) and the processes required to follow from the beginning. Some insight this guide will provide help to determine the study development and the analysis of data upon the conclusion of the study. A few of the many items addressed in this guide are:

The conceptual structure of a research investigation
The finding and reviewing of the existing literature on the study topic
The decision making on optional methodologies to use to attain the data (and why)
The method(s) of analysis used to address the core research problem of the intended study that will take place.

Taking the time to develop a thorough research design helps to organize one’s thoughts, set the boundaries of the study (which will be explained more thoroughly in this guide), maximize the reliability of the findings, and avoid misleading, inaccurate, or incomplete conclusions. If there are aspects of the research design that are underdeveloped or flawed, the quality and reliability of the results will be weakened, as will the overall value of the research study.

The purpose of this guide is to provide a variety of aspects that one should look into. Additionally, the guide's purpose is to answer questions and in one location.

How does this guide work? As you see on the side bar, there are options to select from. These items on the side are the overall "chapter" if you will. Upon selecting one, the subsections within each will span out below the tab. These is to keep the content of the guide reasonably organized, efficient, and intuitive for all users.

The research design one develops ultimately establishes which type of study (qualitative or quantitative) and the processes required to follow from the beginning. This guide is intended to provide insight to help in determining the study development and the analysis of data upon the conclusion of the study. A few of the many items addressed in this guide are:

The conceptual structure of a research investigation
The finding and reviewing of existing literature on the study topic
Selecting and/or developing a theoretical framework to fit your study
The decision making on optional methodologies to use to attain the data (and why)
Writing styles and writing assistance.
The method(s) of analysis used to address the core research problem of the intended study that will take place.

The purpose of this guide is to provide a variety of aspects that one should look into. Additionally, the guide's purpose is to answer questions and in one location.

The objective of this Guide: The primary objective is to help students start, conduct, and complete their research projects eliminating many of the frustrations faced by students. This is for all levels of studies. If you are an undergraduate, masters or doctoral student, this guide has something for you. From this guide, some things you can walk away with are, better ability to organize your research, assistance in the conducting of research (be it the literature review only or a complete study with survey and collected data). Included are recommendations concerning how to successfully manage all components of the research process. This guide is NOT intended to be an exhaustive guide; books have been written to cover portions of what this guide is intended for, which is direction, starting points, and writing guidance - just to mention a few.

Note that you should always refer to your professors' requirements for your research paper/project first. Requirements are set forth by your professor which will always supersede instructions provided in these guidelines.