◎ contents 1. introduction rationale for a focus on research design theoretical research and policy research a classfication of study types qualitative and quantitive research the presentation of study types choices, strategies and practicalities 2. research reviews, meta-analysis and secondary analysis research reviews meta-analysis secondary census studies cross-national comparative studies practical consideration 3. qualitative research depth interviews and focus groups some illustrative examples cross-national comparative studies overlaps and combinations practical consideration 4. administrative records and documents varieties of records-based research the nature and quality of data from administrative records computerisation of administrative records record linkage documentary anlysis cross-national comparative studies overlaps and combinations practical considerations 5. case studies individual case histories community studies case studies of social groups case studies of organisations and instituions case studies of events,roles and relationships case-national comparative studies overlaps and combinations practical considerations 6. Ad hoc sample surveys surveys of individuals survey research on roles and relationships survey research on organisations cross-national comparative studies overlaps and combinations practical considerations 7. regular survey gross and net change types of regular survey cross-national comparative studies overlaps and combinations practical considerations 8. longitudinal studies 9. experimental social-research part 2 : putting together a research design 10. choices and combinations 11. reserach programmes 12. the organisation and funding of research 13. cross-national comparative studies 14. conclusions index