In simpler terms, a research design is a plan or strategy that outlines how a research study will be conducted, from formulating hypotheses to analyzing data. It includes decisions about the sample to be studied, data collection methods, and data analysis techniques. The purpose of a research design is to ensure that the study is valid, objective, accurate, and efficient. It is important for researchers to carefully consider and justify their decisions in the research design, and support them with evidence from existing literature. This ensures that the results obtained from the study are reliable and can be used to answer the research questions or problems.