Meaning and definition of Research Design
          The  research  design  is  the  master  plan 
          specifying  the  methods  &  procedures  for 
          collecting & analyzing the needed information 
          in a research study.
          Research design is a plan of how & where data 
          are to be collected & analyzed.
           Research design is the researcher's overall plan 
          for answering the research questions or testing 
          the research hypotheses.
          …Contd.
   A research design is the framework or guide 
   used for the planning, implementation, & 
   analysis of a study. 
   It is a systematic plan of what is to be done, 
   how it will be done, & how the data will be 
   analyzed.
   Research design basically provides an outline of 
   how the research will be carried out & the 
   methods that will be used. 
          …Contd.
   Research design can be defined as a blue print 
   to  conduct  a  research  study,  which  involves 
   the  description  of  research  approach,  study 
   setting,  sampling  size,  sampling  technique, 
   tool & methods of data collection & analysis 
   to  answer  specific  research  questions  or  for 
   testing research hypothesis.
                      …Contd.
      It  includes  the  descriptions  of  the  research 
      approaches,   dependent     &   independent 
      variables, sampling design, & planning format 
      for data collection, analysis & presentation. 
              Elements of Research Design
                                                                     Qualitative
                                           Approach                         Quantitative
                                                                       Both
                  Methods of                                   Population, sample 
                    Analysis             ELEMENTS                  & sampling 
                                                                   technique
               Tools & Methods of                            Time & Place Methods 
                 Data Collection                               of Data Collection