What constitutes a research design?

A research design is fundamentally a structured plan for conducting a study. It outlines the specific procedures and methodologies that will be used to answer the research questions or hypotheses. This includes decisions about how data will be collected, what type of data will be needed, how to analyze the data, and what materials or instruments will be required.

The design serves as a blueprint for the entire research process, ensuring that the study is methodologically sound and that findings will be valid and reliable. It encompasses elements such as selecting a research methodology (quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods), determining the sampling strategy, establishing the timeline for the study, and setting out the operational definitions of variables involved.

In contrast, a summary of existing research findings refers to previous studies and their results rather than the framework for a new investigation. A narrative of the researcher's personal experiences does not provide a rigorous or systematic approach that is characteristic of research design. Similarly, the final report of research outcomes is the product of the study rather than a plan for conducting it. Thus, the structured plan aspect is essential to effective research and is what makes the first option the correct answer.