How do I select the right study design?

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Key Points

• There are many ways to approach a research problem, and selecting the appropriate study design is a critical first step.
• Examples of study designs include case-control, cohort study, randomized control trial, systematic review, and meta-analysis.
• Some considerations to make when selecting a research design are: what data will be collected (qualitative or quantitative) if an intervention will be applied, how the data will be analyzed, and whether the results collected will answer the specific research question.

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Helpful Links, Videos and Online Courses

Overview

• Types of Research Designs – Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper
  • A comprehensive guide from the University of Southern California defines many types of studies, including examples, limitations, and advantages of each.
• Study Design 101
  • A guide to case reports, case-control studies, cohort, randomized control, practice guidelines, systematic review, and meta-analytic studies from the George Washington University Health Sciences Library.

Videos

• Epidemiological Studies
  • A 10-minute video describing the details, differences, advantages, and disadvantages of different study designs in public health.
• What is Research Design?
  • A 6-minute video that explains the difference between research methods and research design; factors to consider when selecting a study design; and how to use the scientific method to conduct a research project.

Helpful Courses

• Research Design
  • Covers more advanced considerations of research design like data collection and sampling methods.
  • (Note: This 20-minute video lecture references a textbook, but the book is not needed to understand the video)

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