This document discusses research design and different types of research studies. It defines research design as the plan and strategy that guides the research process. The quality of a study is determined by its conclusion validity, or the ability to accurately draw conclusions. Research design involves determining the degree of structure, topical scope, and data collection methods. Different types of studies include exploratory, formal, statistical, case studies, descriptive, and causal studies. Common techniques for exploratory research are secondary data analysis, focus groups, and experience surveys.