Study Design & Measurement

Justify your design, build your variable framework, plan your measurement

Three sequential tools that take your research question and proposed study design and develop your methodological reasoning — so you can defend every decision. The tool guides your thinking — it doesn't do the work for you.

Design endorsement Variable framework Operationalization Causal reasoning Measurement planning

Context

Tool 1: Design

Tool 2: Variables

Tool 3: Measurement

Choose your mode

Standard mode works through each tool step by step with coaching dialogue. Express mode delivers structured output immediately across all three tools.

Standard

Guided learning

Step-by-step coaching with full explanations and reflection prompts always shown. Recommended for students and early-career researchers.

Express

Direct feedback

Submit your context and receive structured output across all three tools immediately. Coaching detail collapsed — expand any section to explore. Tip: Be as specific as possible.

Your research context

Enter your research question, population, and proposed study design. If you completed Module 1, your RQ and design have already been reviewed — bring them here to go deeper.

Research question or objective

0 / 300

Target population

Setting / context

Proposed study design

Primary purpose of this study

Was this design assigned to you, or did you select it yourself?

I selected it myself It was assigned to me

Did you complete Module 1 (Research Reviewer Lens) for this idea? (optional)

Yes — same RQ and design Yes — but I've changed my RQ or design since No — starting here directly

Key constraints (optional)

Before we examine your design

Standard mode asks you to articulate your reasoning first — so the coaching responds to your thinking, not just your inputs.

What was your primary reason for proposing a ? Did you consider any alternative designs?

Tool 2 — Variable Framework Builder

Propose your variables. This tool will interrogate your choices across six methodological angles — conceptual clarity, design alignment, temporal logic, causal classification, measurability, and omitted variables.

Outcome variable — what you are trying to explain or measure

How will you know the outcome has occurred or is present?

Exposure variable — the factor you believe influences the outcome

Third variable(s) (optional — enter if you have one in mind)

Variables you considered but decided not to include (optional)

Describe the causal relationships between your variables (optional)

Text descriptions only — no diagram upload needed.

Tool 3 — Operationalization & Measurement Planner

Plan how each variable in your confirmed framework will actually be measured. This tool guides you through operational definitions, measurement levels, data sources, instrument selection, and validity considerations.

Data collection approach

Data collection method

Setting for data collection

Do you have a measurement instrument in mind for any variable?

Yes For some variables Not yet

Known measurement constraints (optional)