Objective: The purpose of this step is to present alternative data collection designs that meet the requirements previously specified.
* Review the outputs and existing environmental data
* Translate the information into a statistical hypothesis
* Develop the general sampling and analysis design alternatives
* For each design alternative, formulate the mathematical expressions need to solve the problem.
* For each design alternative, select the optimal sample size
* Select the most resource-effective design
* Document the operational details and theoretical assumptions of the selected design in the Sampling and Analysis Plan.
* Decide on what sampling is required
* Decide on what Statistical Hypothesis Testing will be done
* The most resource-effective design for the study that is expected to achieve the overall objective selected from a group of alternative designs.