Designing and Reporting Research

This capstone unit synthesizes sampling strategies, experimental and quasi-experimental designs, ethical approvals, and publication-ready reporting. Students learn to select and justify sampling and design choices, prepare transparent methods/results/discussion materials (including references and appendices), and critically evaluate limitations and generalizability.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze strengths, limitations, and trade-offs of sampling methods (random, convenience, small-n) and calculate appropriate sample size and power implications for research questions to justify generalizability claims
• Apply ethical approval procedures and research design principles to develop and justify randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental, and pre-test/comparison-group designs while addressing consent, risk minimization, and regulatory requirements
• Demonstrate competence in preparing a complete, publication-ready research report and supporting appendices: report numbers accurately, structure methods/results/discussion, format references, and perform final checks for reproducibility and transparency
• Evaluate peer and own research by critiquing methodological choices, statistical reporting, limitations (e.g., sampling bias, small samples, redundancy), and make evidence-based recommendations without overstating conclusions