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2 years ago in Academic Research Practices By Deepthi G
What are the core components of a rigorous research design?
I'm designing my first independent study. I know I need a good question, but what are the non-negotiable pillars of a robust research design that will stand up to peer review and contribute meaningful knowledge?
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By Olusegun Akintola Answered 1 year ago
Rigorous design is about intentional alignment and foresight. From my experience, five components are non-negotiable: 1) Clear Research Question/Hypothesis: What exactly are you testing or exploring? 2) Appropriate Methodology: Does your chosen method (qualitative, quantitative, mixed) logically allow you to answer that question? 3) Sound Sampling/Data Collection Strategy: Is your sample representative or information-rich? Are your instruments valid and reliable? 4) Ethical Foundation: Have you obtained IRB approval? Are you protecting participants? 5) Pre-Registered Analysis Plan (for quantitative work): What analyses will you run before seeing the data? This prevents bias. Every choice must be justified, not just convenient. A strong design anticipates reviewer critiques about bias, generalizability, and alternative explanations before data is even collected.
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