What is the purpose of a research design?

The purpose of a research design is to create a structured plan for testing a hypothesis. It involves outlining the methods and procedures that will be used to collect data, analyze the results, and draw conclusions about the hypothesis being investigated. A well-constructed research design is crucial because it ensures that the study is methodologically sound, which increases the validity and reliability of the findings.

This planning phase helps researchers to anticipate potential challenges, define variables clearly, determine the appropriate sample size, and select the right tools and instruments for data collection. By establishing a clear framework, researchers can systematically test their hypotheses, making it easier to understand relationships between variables and potentially apply findings to real-world situations.

In contrast, analyzing changes in participant behavior focuses on the outcomes of a study rather than its structure. Summarizing previous research findings does not involve the creation of a research plan but rather the synthesis of existing knowledge. Establishing definitions for psychological disorders is also not related to the development of a research design, as it pertains more to diagnostic criteria than to the planning of empirical research.