Foundations of Research Design 

Overview

Time Commitment: 5 hours | Cost: $225/$325 (member/nonmember)

Foundations Workshops introduce skills needed for a strong data-informed decision culture and are packed with information considered to be the foundational knowledge in each area of concentration. 

Foundations of Research Design introduces participants to the essential building blocks of research planning and execution in higher education. You explore quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method methodologies, while learning to identify research questions, choose appropriate designs, and understand sampling and data collection strategies. The workshop emphasizes real-world constraints that shape research design decisions, providing a strong foundation for participants seeking to work more effectively with data and research in institutional contexts. This course is ideal for institutional researchers, assessment professionals, administrators, and anyone who uses data to inform decision-making in higher education settings.

What You'll Learn

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Identify a research project, draft appropriate research questions, and identify its research design.
• Articulate the differences between quantitative, qualitative, and mixed method research designs.
• Understand real-world constraints on the selection of an appropriate research design.
• Understand data collection, sampling techniques, and reliability and validity measures related to research designs.

Who Should Attend

This workshop is ideal for higher education professionals, institutional researchers, and anyone involved in data-driven decision-making processes seeking to enhance their research design skills. Delivered in an engaging manner, the workshops are designed for anyone who works closely with data in higher education—not just IR professionals.