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Study Design Matrix:Align your research
Every methodological decision must be aligned with your research question, your paradigm, and your form of analysis. This tool guides you to build that coherence.
60 min individual5 steps 3 min presentation
The question is the anchor of everything. If the question isn't clear, nothing that follows will have coherence.
Your name
Research questionIf you haven't defined it yet, write the clearest version you have today. It can change.
Unit of analysisWhat or who are you studying? People, objects, processes, institutions, artifacts...
Tip: A good research question is specific, researchable, and relevant. Avoid yes/no questions.
Objectives operationalize the question. The paradigm defines where you look from.
General objectiveA single objective that directly answers the question. Use verbs like: understand, explore, evaluate, develop, analyze...
Specific objectives2–4 sub-objectives that together achieve the general objective. Each should be verifiable.
Research paradigmSelect the paradigm that best aligns with your question and objectives. You can select more than one if your research is mixed methods.
Positivism
Objective reality · Measurement · Experiment
Post-positivism
Imperfect reality · Falsification · Triangulation
Critical Theory
Power · Emancipation · Ideological critique
Constructivism
Constructed reality · Interpretation · Hermeneutics
Participatory
Co-construction · Action · Transformation
Other / Mixed
Specify below
Justify your paradigm choice
The method is the vehicle. The sample is who/what. The instruments are the collection tools.
Study type / MethodCase study, ethnography, experiment, grounded theory, action research, Research through Design, mixed methods...
Population / sample
Sample typeProbabilistic, non-probabilistic, convenience, snowball, purposive...
Data collection instrumentsSemi-structured interviews, questionnaires, observation, diaries, prototypes, workshops...
Information sourcesPrimary (direct participants) and/or secondary (documents, literature, databases).
How will you analyze the data? And most importantly: is everything aligned?
Form of analysisThematic analysis, statistical analysis, grounded theory coding, discourse analysis, comparative analysis, ANOVA...
✓ Alignment verification
Check that each row is coherent with the others. If something doesn't fit, it's better to adjust it now.
🔄 Update alignment
Prepare your 3-minute presentation. Focus on coherence between question, paradigm, method, and analysis.
Your 3-minute presentation
Write your synthesis
Where did you find the greatest alignment difficulty?
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