# Research Design

> Design research studies with clear questions, appropriate methods, sampling logic, and success criteria before data collection begins. Use when scoping any primary or secondary research effort, choosing methods, or writing a research plan.

- Skill: `itsual/research-design` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add itsual/research-design`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/itsual/research-design/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Research & Search
- Author: itsual (https://skillmd.com/u/itsual)
- Updated: 2026-09-21
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/itsual/research-design

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# Research Design

## Overview

Research design turns vague curiosity into a study that can actually answer a question. Method choice, sampling, and operational constraints are decided up front so results are interpretable.

## When to Use

- Scoping a new research project
- Choosing between qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods
- Writing research briefs and plans
- Aligning stakeholders on what “done” means

## Core Practices

- Write precise research questions or hypotheses
- Match methods to the type of question (exploratory, descriptive, causal)
- Define population, sampling approach, and constraints
- Plan data collection instruments and analysis approach together
- State limitations and non-goals explicitly
- Set decision criteria: what finding would change a choice?

## Principles

- A beautiful method answering the wrong question is waste
- Feasibility is part of design, not an afterthought
- Mixed methods need a deliberate integration plan
- Pre-registration of analysis intent reduces motivated reasoning

## Verification

- [ ] Research questions are specific and answerable
- [ ] Method choice is justified against the questions
- [ ] Sampling and limitations are explicit
- [ ] Stakeholders agree on how findings will be used