Identify the problem that you wish to investigate. State what the problem is and justify your reason for selecting it. How would investigation of this topic further your field? Explain specifically how your project will add to knowledge in your field in an important way.
Read and review previous literature about this issue. New research builds upon, extends or corrects past research. By getting to know the work that has been done in your field already you can cater your research and expand the field in logical directions.
Summarize past literature and include this summary in your research design. This will be used later when you write your results. Organizing this information will also help to familiarize you with past research methods and procedures that have been used to investigate your topic.
Develop a hypothesis. A hypothesis is the central question or prediction that you put forth about your topic. The hypothesis is based on, and informed by, previous research. It should make sense as it is related to the work that has already been done in your given field, as a logical next step.
State your hypothesis clearly and concisely.
Describe your data. With consideration to your hypothesis, explain how your data will be collected. The details of your hypothesis will tell you what population or group of people you will study as well as where they will come from. For instance, if your hypothesis refers to the relationship between police officers and criminals, you will likely be collecting information via the criminal justice system.
Identify your method of analysis. Use the most appropriate one to analyze the data you have described. Be specific in the method of analysis that you will use. Methods of analysis employed by the social sciences can include surveys studies, interviews, direct observation, physiological manipulations, descriptive methods, experiments, tests and ethnography, among others.