Introduction
Research design is commonly defined as a program or a blueprint that guides researchers through the process of collecting, analyzing and interpreting observations. Its essentialness is rooted in its effects on the validity of knowledge claims. Research design is pivotal in affecting the strength, persuasiveness, and authoritativeness of claims concerning causality, external validity, and construct validity (to name a few). Research design is both a science and an art. While some of the major principles are firmly established, we continuously observe renovations, extensions as well as bold innovations.