Comparing Types of Research Designs

Every researcher chooses the research design best suited to generate the envisioned conclusions they like to draw. There are several research designs available to produce a specific conclusion. Commonly used research designs in business and management are design science, action research, single case, multiple cases, cross-sectional, longitudinal, experimental, and literature review research. The specific characteristics depicting these research designs’ idiosyncrasies, differences, and fields of application of these research designs are gathered in a synopsis. Also, we pose questions that guide researchers to the research design, matching their objectives and personal preferences. This chapter also addresses the popular terms “triangulation” and “mixed methods” and puts them into the context of research design.