Designing impactful research

Abstract

This chapter discusses the five key research design principles central to the applied scientific method which high quality research is recommended to adopt. These five principles are: (1) The inclusion of reliable and valid measures; (2) the inclusion of sufficient and generalizable research samples; (3) the inclusion of evidence of theoretical sophistication; (4) the inclusion of research designs that promotes causal generalizations; and (5) the inclusion of research implications for the end users. We argue that the inclusion of these five principles maximises the opportunities of research to achieve an external impact, and that this should be one of the key aims of conducting research at all levels. This chapter also discusses the process of research evaluation and discusses the importance of planning this evaluation process within the research design stages.