Theme 9 - Methodology

1. Methodology

1.1. The Methodology Chapter

• The Methodology chapter of your final report can be seen as ‘taking the front off the machine’.
• It lets readers understand the workings of your research project, so that someone could repeat it.
• You must share and explain why you chose to conduct your research that way.

1.2. The structure of Methodology Chapter

• Introduction
• Research Approach
• Research Methods
• Ethical Considerations
• Limitations
• Conclusion

1.3. Methodology “voice”

• In your Research Proposal, you described what you will do.
• In you Research Project, your Methodology Chapter must be written in the past simple tense – because, at that point in time, it will be completed.

1.4. Tense and Voice Examples

• A questionnaire was developed using a mixture of open and closed questions. (Passive)
• All information was collected anonymously. (Passive)
• An informed consent form was produced. (Passive)
• All participants gave their informed consent. (Active)

2. Write The Methodology Chapter

• In the Methodology chapter, you shouldn’t simply describe what you have done
• You need to justify why you have done it that way, considering the advantages and possible disadvantages or limitations
• You also need to reflect on what you would do differently if you were to conduct your research again

2.1. Introduction

• A definition of methodology
  • A methodology is the step-by-step process taken by a researcher in order to complete his or her research.
  • It can involve primary research methods (for example, experiments, surveys, or interviews) or secondary research methods.
  • You can use your own definition, or you can cite someone else’s.
• A description of the purpose of the chapter: The purpose of this chapter is to explain the process of your research so that it can be evaluated and, if needed, replicated.
• A restatement of your research questions/thesis statement: It is always a good idea to remind your readers exactly what you are trying to argue. Make sure you do so!

2.2. Research Approach

• The approach you have chosen
  • Positivist or interpretivist?
  • Inductive or deductive?
  • Qualitative, quantitative or both?
  • Primary or secondary?
• Your reasons for choosing this approach
• The strengths and weaknesses of this approach

2.3. Research methods

• Primary Research
  • Overview of the research
  • Population/Sample
  • Location
  • Restrictions/Limiting Conditions
  • Sampling Technique
  • Procedures (including details of pilot study)
  • Materials
  • Variables
  • Data analysis method(s)
• Secondary Research
  • Choice of sources/data sets
  • Types of data used
  • Data analysis method(s)
  • An evaluation of the usefulness of your chosen methods (How appropriate was secondary research? Why was primary research not suitable?)
  • Possible alternative methods

2.4. Ethical considerations

• Primary Research
  • ethical issues related to your research and how you resolved them (e.g. avoiding harm to participants, anonymity, confidentiality, data storage, right to withdraw etc.)
  • gaining approval for your data collection method, the use of a participant information sheet and the importance of gaining informed consent (these forms should be referred to and included as appendices in your final report)
• Secondary Research
  • your data sources and how you gained access to them
  • any ethical issues relevant to the original collection of the data

2.5. Limitations

• Primary Research
  • Time
  • Sample size
  • Sampling technique
  • Quantitative/qualitative/mixed method data collection methods
  • Were there any issues with reliability or validity?
• Secondary Research
  • Availability of data sets
  • The quality of data sets

2.6. Conclusion

• The importance of the methodology chapter
• A summary of what you’ve done in the section
• Cohesion: Remember to include a sentence to provide a smooth transition from this chapter to the next chapter of the report.