The document discusses research design, which it defines as the arrangement of conditions for collecting and analyzing data in a way that balances relevance to the research purpose with procedural efficiency. It notes research design provides an overall framework, blueprint, and guide for research operations. Key aspects of research design include dependent and independent variables, control of extraneous variables, research hypotheses, experimental and control groups, and choice of design based on the research objectives and what is known about the problem. The document outlines three main types of research design: exploratory, conclusive, and descriptive; and two types of experimental design: informal and formal.