Your research methodology discusses and explains the data collection and analysis methods you used in your research. A key part of your thesis, dissertation, or research paper, the methodology chapter explains what you did and how you did it, allowing readers to evaluate the reliability and validity of your research and your dissertation topic. Show
It should include:
How to write a research methodologyWhy is a methods section important?Your methods section is your opportunity to share how you conducted your research and why you chose the methods you chose. It’s also the place to show that your research was rigorously conducted and can be replicated. It gives your research legitimacy and situates it within your field, and also gives your readers a place to refer to if they have any questions or critiques in other sections.
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See editing example Step 1: Explain your methodological approachYou can start by introducing your overall approach to your research. You have two options here. Option 1: Start with your “what”What research problem or question did you investigate?
And what type of data did you need to achieve this aim? Option 2: Start with your “why”Depending on your discipline, you can also start with a discussion of the rationale and assumptions underpinning your methodology. In other words, why did you choose these methods for your study?
Step 2: Describe your data collection methodsOnce you have introduced your reader to your methodological approach, you should share full details about your data collection methods. Quantitative methodsIn order to be considered generalizable, you should describe quantitative research methods in enough detail for another researcher to replicate your study. Here, explain how you operationalized your concepts and measured your variables. Discuss your sampling method or inclusion and exclusion criteria, as well as any tools, procedures, and materials you used to gather your data. Surveys
Experiments Existing data
The survey consisted of 5 multiple-choice questions and 10 questions measured on a 7-point Likert scale. The goal was to collect survey responses from 350 customers visiting the fitness apparel company’s brick-and-mortar location in Boston on July 4–8, 2022, between 11:00 and 15:00. Here, a customer was defined as a person who had purchased a product from the company on the day they took the survey. Participants were given 5 minutes to fill in the survey anonymously. In total, 408 customers responded, but not all surveys were fully completed. Due to this, 371 survey results were included in the analysis. Qualitative methodsIn qualitative research, methods are often more flexible and subjective. For this reason, it’s crucial to robustly explain the methodology choices you made. Be sure to discuss the criteria you used to select your data, the context in which your research was conducted, and the role you played in collecting your data (e.g., were you an active participant, or a passive observer?) Interviews or focus groups
Participant observation
Existing data
In order to gain better insight into possibilities for future improvement of the fitness store’s product range, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 8 returning customers. Here, a returning customer was defined as someone who usually bought products at least twice a week from the store. Surveys were used to select participants. Interviews were conducted in a small office next to the cash register and lasted approximately 20 minutes each. Answers were recorded by note-taking, and seven interviews were also filmed with consent. One interviewee preferred not to be filmed. NoteKeep in mind that qualitative methods are at risk for a few types of research bias and demand characteristics arising from human behavior and interactions in research settings. These include:Mixed methodsMixed methods research combines quantitative and qualitative approaches. If a standalone quantitative or qualitative study is insufficient to answer your research question, mixed methods may be a good fit for you. Mixed methods are less common than standalone analyses, largely because they require a great deal of effort to pull off successfully. If you choose to pursue mixed methods, it’s especially important to robustly justify your methods. Example: Mixed methodsQuantitative and qualitative methods were combined to see if there was a statistically significant relationship between the speed with which the fitness store shelved new releases from popular brands and the likelihood that customers would return. Quantitative research involved running analyses in R on purchase data, while qualitative research focused on the likelihood that interviewed participants mentioned new releases. Step 3: Describe your analysis methodNext, you should indicate how you processed and analyzed your data. Avoid going into too much detail: you should not start introducing or discussing any of your results at this stage. Quantitative methodsIn quantitative research, your analysis will be based on numbers. In your methods section, you can include: Example: Quantitative methodsBefore analysis, the gathered data was prepared. The dataset was checked for missing data and outliers. For this, the “outlier labeling rule” was used. All values outside the calculated range were considered outliers (Hoaglin & Iglewicz, 1987). The data were then analyzed using a two-way ANOVA with statistical software SPSS. Qualitative methodsIn qualitative research, your analysis will be based on language, images, and observations (often involving some form of textual analysis). Specific methods might include:
The interviews were transcribed and thematic analysis was conducted. This involved coding all the data before identifying and reviewing six key themes. Each theme was examined to gain an understanding of participants’ perceptions and motivations. Mixed methodsMixed methods combine the above two research methods, integrating both qualitative and quantitative approaches into one coherent analytical process. Step 4: Evaluate and justify the methodological choices you madeAbove all, your methodology section should clearly make the case for why you chose the methods you did. This is especially true if you did not take the most standard approach to your topic. In this case, discuss why other methods were not suitable for your objectives, and show how this approach contributes new knowledge or understanding. In any case, it should be overwhelmingly clear to your reader that you set yourself up for success in terms of your methodology’s design. Show how your methods should lead to results that are valid and reliable, while leaving the analysis of the meaning, importance, and relevance of your results for your discussion section.
Tips for writing a strong methodology chapterRemember that your aim is not just to describe your methods, but to show how and why you applied them. Again, it’s critical to demonstrate that your research was rigorously conducted and can be replicated. 1. Focus on your objectives and research questionsThe methodology section should clearly show why your methods suit your objectives and convince the reader that you chose the best possible approach to answering your problem statement and research questions. 2. Cite relevant sourcesYour methodology can be strengthened by referencing existing research in your field. This can help you to:
3. Write for your audienceConsider how much information you need to give, and avoid getting too lengthy. If you are using methods that are standard for your discipline, you probably don’t need to give a lot of background or justification. Regardless, your methodology should be a clear, well-structured text that makes an argument for your approach, not just a list of technical details and procedures. Frequently asked questions about methodologyWhat is sampling?
A sample is a subset of individuals from a larger population. Sampling means selecting the group that you will actually collect data from in your research. For example, if you are researching the opinions of students in your university, you could survey a sample of 100 students. In statistics, sampling allows you to test a hypothesis about the characteristics of a population.
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