Research Design – Composition, Configuration and Interdependencies

Abstract

In this essay I will present an integrative view on research design. I will introduce what Itake to be the skeleton components of any research design within the social sciences, i.e.the elements of research question, philosophy of science, methodology, method and data.With this as my point of departure I will go on to focus on a presentation, a discussionand an evaluation of a new appreciation of the interdependencies of the elements in theresearch design. An appreciation that favors a relational rather than an atomistic outlookand which gives rise to an ecological conceptualization of research design. A research design,in other words, which promotes plasticity and fluidity over adherence to static protocol.And which, at the same time, does not relinquish control over project-relevant, multifaceteddecision-making processes – and their respective interdependencies – but which deliberateseach and every one of them. The aim of the paper is twofold. At a more abstract level, itaims at paving the way for establishing a reflexive approach to research design which, in turn,would be in tune with the tenets of the field of Organizational Knowledge Communication(e.g. Kastberg, 2014). At a more concrete level, it aims at presenting an idea of researchdesign which would – hopefully – be an inspiration to (young) scholars.