# Study Design Template

<!--
Usage: Draft a protocol-style study design document.
Save to: RESEARCH/[topic]/study_design.md
-->

# Study Design: [Working Title]

## 1) Overview
- **Research goal**: causal / descriptive / predictive / explanatory / interpretive
- **Primary RQ(s)**:
- **Hypotheses / working propositions (if any)**:
- **Contribution**:

## 2) Background (Brief)
- What is known:
- What is unknown / gap:
- Why this study now:

## 3) Design Choice
- **Study type**: experiment / quasi-experimental / observational / qualitative / mixed
- **Rationale** (fit-to-question + constraints):
- **Unit of analysis**:
- **Setting/context**:

### Design decision log
| Decision | Chosen option | Rejected alternatives | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Study type | | | |
| Unit of analysis | | | |
| Timing / panel structure | | | |

## 4) Population, Sampling, Recruitment
- **Target population**:
- **Inclusion/exclusion criteria**:
- **Sampling strategy**:
- **Recruitment channels**:
- **Compensation**:
- **Sample size plan**:
  - Quant: power/MDE rationale (or feasibility-based)
  - Qual: saturation / theoretical sufficiency plan + sampling logic

## 5) Measures / Instruments
### Key constructs and operationalization
| Construct / sensitizing concept | Role (IV/DV/theme/code/etc) | Operationalization / Instrument / Evidence source | Notes |
|----------|-------------------|----------------------------------|------|
| | | | |

### Instrument details
- Survey: see `RESEARCH/[topic]/instruments/survey.md` (optional)
- Interview guide: see `RESEARCH/[topic]/instruments/interview_guide.md` (optional)

## 6) Procedures / Data Collection
- Timeline (waves/timepoints):
- Data collection steps:
- Access / site-entry plan:
- Randomization / assignment (if applicable):
- Recording / transcription / fieldnote rules:
- Pilot plan:

## 7) Analysis Summary (Pointer)
- Primary outcome(s) or analytic targets:
- Core model(s) / coding approach:
- Key covariates:
- Heterogeneity / subgroups / case contrasts (pre-specified):

Full details: `RESEARCH/[topic]/analysis_plan.md`

## 8) Validity / Rigor
- Threats to validity / trustworthiness:
- Mitigations:
- Reliability / credibility checks:

## 9) Ethics / IRB
- Consent approach:
- Risks/benefits:
- Privacy and data security:
- Vulnerable populations (if any):

Ethics pack: `RESEARCH/[topic]/ethics_irb.md`

## 10) Data Management & Reproducibility
- Storage location + access control:
- De-identification/anonymization:
- Retention schedule:
- Code & analysis reproducibility:

Full plan: `RESEARCH/[topic]/data_management_plan.md`

## 10.5) Handoff Artifacts

| Artifact | Purpose | Owner |
|---|---|---|
| `analysis_plan.md` | Estimands, models, inference rules | `study-designer` |
| `design/variable_spec.md` | Operational variable definitions | `variable-constructor` |
| `design/dataset_plan.md` | Dataset feasibility and source strategy | `dataset-finder` |
| `data_management_plan.md` | Governance, storage, retention | `study-designer` |
| `instruments/` | Collection instruments | `study-designer` |

## 11) Preregistration (Optional)
- Registry (OSF/AsPredicted/etc.):
- What will be pre-specified:
- Deviation logging plan:

Draft: `RESEARCH/[topic]/preregistration.md`

## 12) Timeline & Milestones
| Milestone | Date | Owner | Notes |
|----------|------|-------|------|
| | | | |
