There are several types of research design, but the five most common ones are:
Experimental design: involves the manipulation of one or more independent variables to observe their effect on the dependent variable. This type of design is useful for establishing causality between variables.
Quasi-experimental design: similar to experimental design, but without strict control over extraneous variables. This design is used when it is not possible or ethical to manipulate the independent variables.
Correlational design: involves examining the relationship between two or more variables without manipulation. This type of design is used to establish the existence and strength of a relationship between variables.
Survey design: involves collecting data through self-reported questionnaires or interviews. This design is used to gather information about attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours from a large sample of individuals.
Case study design: involves an in-depth examination of a single individual, group, or event. This design gathers detailed information about a specific phenomenon and develops theories or hypotheses for future research.
These are the five most commonly used research designs in the social sciences, but there are many other designs that can be used depending on the research question and the type of data being collected.