has part has part plan specification protocol study design A plan specification comprised of protocols (which may specify how and what kinds of data will be gathered) that are executed as part of an investigation and is realized during a study design execution. Editor note: there is at least an implicit restriction on the kind of data transformations that can be done based on the measured data available. PERSON: Chris Stoeckert a matched pairs study design describes criteria by which subjects are identified as pairs which then undergo the same protocols, and the data generated is analyzed by comparing the differences between the paired subjects, which constitute the results of the executed study design. experimental design rediscussed at length (MC/JF/BP). 12/9/08). The definition was clarified to differentiate it from protocol. study design