A strong methodology chapter explains not just what you did, but why. These five parts form the backbone of a clear, defensible methodology section.
1. Research Philosophy
State whether your research takes a positivist, interpretivist, or pragmatist approach, and explain briefly why this fits your research question.
2. Research Design
Describe whether you used a qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods design, and justify this choice against your research objectives.
3. Data Collection Methods
Explain exactly how you gathered your data, whether through surveys, interviews, experiments, or secondary sources, including sample size and selection criteria.
4. Data Analysis Approach
Outline the specific techniques used to analyse your data, such as statistical tests or thematic coding, and explain why they suit your data type.
5. Ethical Considerations
Address consent, confidentiality, and data storage, and confirm that your research received any required ethical approval from your institution.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should a methodology chapter be?
Methodology chapters typically make up around fifteen to twenty percent of a dissertation, though this varies by discipline and institution.
Do I need ethical approval for all dissertation research?
Most research involving human participants or sensitive data requires ethical approval, so check your university’s specific policy before starting data collection.
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