What is the main purpose of a "research design"?

The main purpose of a "research design" is to outline how a study will be conducted, which includes specifying the methods and analysis plans that will be utilized throughout the research process. A well-structured research design serves as a blueprint that provides clarity on the research framework, guiding researchers in their approach to data collection, analysis, and interpretation of results. It encompasses various components such as the selection of participants, data collection methods, and the analysis techniques that will be employed to answer the research questions.

In contrast, while determining financial costs, predicting outcomes, and ensuring compliance with ethical standards are all important aspects of research, they do not encapsulate the primary function of research design. Research design is fundamentally focused on the methodology and procedural steps that will generate valid and reliable results, setting the foundation for conducting sound empirical research.