The author discusses the problems involved in choosing a research model in Translation Studies. She argues that the choice of a model depends on the type of problem to be observed and its relevance to Translation Studies as a whole, i.e. the extent to which the results of the research may be generalized. From there, she introduces a flow chart depicting the steps to be taken in choosing a research model. Preliminary stages in this process lead to the decision whether or not to do empirical study, and subsequent stages determine whether or not experimental research is carried out. These are followed by decisions relating to research design and data collection. The process of choosing and applying a research model in this way is illustrated by means of the empirical-experimental model for investigating translation competence as designed by the PACTE group (Procesos de Aprendizaje de la Competencia Traductora y Evaluación [Learning Processes in the Acquisition of Translation Competence and Evaluation]) at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.