Using the principle that the level of knowledge available on a research topic determines the level of design that can be used to study the topic, the contributors present discussions of research at three levels of design: theoretically based experimental designs; comparative and correlated survey designs; and exploratory-descriptive research designs.

Strengths and weaknesses of each design in sampling, methods, reliability, validity, data analysis and issues related to human subjects are addressed. Contributors also discuss writing and evaluating proposals.