How is the term `research design' to be used in this book? An analogy
might help. When constructing a building there is no point ordering
materials or setting critical dates for completion of project stages until we
know what sort of building is being constructed. The ®rst decision is
whether we need a high rise of®ce building, a factory for manufacturing
machinery, a school, a residential home or an apartment block. Until this
is done we cannot sketch a plan, obtain permits, work out a work
schedule or order materials.