A research methodology explains the strategies employed for data collection and analysis within your study. Integral to your thesis, dissertation, or research paper, this chapter delineates your actions and procedures, enabling readers to assess the credibility and integrity of your research and chosen topic.

It should encompass:

  • The nature of your research endeavor
  • The methodologies employed for data collection and analysis
  • Tools or resources utilized during the research process
  • Measures taken to address or prevent biases in the research
  • The rationale behind the selection of these methodologies

Tips

  • Craft your methodology section predominantly in the past tense.
  • Use citation style guidelines, such as APA Style, to structure your methodology section.
  • Consult academic style guides pertinent to your discipline for specific instructions on content for various study types.

How to write a research methodology

A research methodology explains your study’s data collection and analysis strategies. Integral to your thesis, dissertation, or research paper, this chapter delineates your actions and procedures, enabling readers to assess the credibility and integrity of your research and chosen topic.

In today’s digital age, researchers often utilize various resources, including online platforms like Google Books, to access a wide range of literature and methodological approaches, enhancing the depth and breadth of their research methodology.

While formats may differ, numerous successful methodology chapters adhere to this four-part framework:

Step 1: Explain Your Methodological Approach

You can begin your methodology section by introducing your overall research approach. You have two main options for how to structure this:

Option 1: Start with Your “What”

Here, you would first describe the specific research problem, question, or objective you set out to investigate. For example, did you aim to:

  • Explore the characteristics of a particular phenomenon.
  • Examine an under-researched topic in-depth. 
  • Establish a causal relationship between variables.

Then, clarify the type of data you need to address this aim – whether quantitative, qualitative, or a mix of both. Indicate if you collected primary data yourself or relied on secondary data sources. Were you gathering experimental data through controlled conditions or descriptive data via observations?

Option 2: Start with Your “Why”

Alternatively, you can start by discussing your chosen methodology’s rationale and underlying assumptions. This is especially important if your approach is not standard in your field.

Explain why these methods were the best way to answer your research question. Consider factors such as:

  • The validity and reliability criteria for this type of research
  • Any ethical considerations that informed your methodological choices
  • Whether this is a commonly used approach in your discipline or if it requires additional justification

Quantitative Example

In a quantitative experimental study, your goal may be to produce generalizable knowledge about the causes of a phenomenon. This requires a carefully designed study with controlled conditions that can be replicated.

Qualitative Example

In a qualitative ethnography, your aim might be to generate a contextual, real-world understanding of a specific group’s behaviors, social structures, or beliefs. This less controlled, more interpretive methodology demands that you reflect on your role as a researcher.

Whichever approach you take, the key is to provide a clear and compelling rationale for why your chosen methods were well-suited to addressing your research objectives.

Step 2: Describe Your Data Collection Methods

Once you have introduced your methodological approach, the next step is to provide full details about how you gathered your research data.

Quantitative Methods

When using quantitative research methods, you must describe your procedures sufficiently so that another researcher can replicate your study. This includes explaining how you operationalized your key concepts and variables and the specific tools, procedures, and materials you employed.

For surveys, you should detail:

  • Where, when, and how the survey was administered
  • How you designed the survey questionnaire (e.g., question formats, scales used)  
  • Whether the surveys were conducted in person or virtually
  • The sampling method used to select participants
  • Your total sample size and response rate

For experiments, share comprehensive information about:

  • The experimental design
  • Participant recruitment methods
  • How you manipulated and measured the variables
  • Any specialized tools or equipment utilized

When using existing datasets or archival materials, explain:

  • Where you sourced the data from
  • How the original data was produced
  • The criteria you used to select the materials for your analysis

Example: Quantitative Methods

The survey consisted of 5 multiple-choice questions and 10 Likert scale items. The goal was to collect responses from 350 customers visiting the fitness apparel store in Boston between July 4-8, 2022, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. A customer was defined as someone who had purchased the same day they completed the survey. In total, 408 customers responded, though 371 surveys were entirely usable for the analysis.

The key in this section is to provide a comprehensive account of your data collection procedures, equipping the reader to thoroughly evaluate the appropriateness and rigor of your quantitative methods.

Step 3: Describe Your Analysis Method

Next, you should explain how you processed and analyzed the collected data. Avoid delving into the specific results or findings at this stage—that should be reserved for the results and discussion sections.

Quantitative Analysis

For quantitative research, your analysis will be grounded in numerical data. In this part of the methodology, you can include details about:

  • How you prepared the data before analysis, such as addressing missing values, removing outliers, or transforming variables
  • The statistical software package you utilized (e.g., SPSS, Stata, R)
  • The specific statistical tests or models you applied (e.g., t-tests, regression analysis, ANOVA)

Example: Quantitative Analysis

Before conducting the analysis, the dataset was prepared. This involved checking for any missing data and outliers. The “outlier labeling rule” was used to identify and remove any values outside the acceptable range (Hoaglin & Iglewicz, 1987). The data was then analyzed using a two-way ANOVA procedure in the SPSS software.

Qualitative Analysis

In qualitative research, your analysis will be based on language, images, observations, and non-numerical data. Standard qualitative analysis methods include:

  • Content analysis: Systematically coding and categorizing the meaning of words, phrases, and themes
  • Thematic analysis: Closely reviewing the data to identify overarching patterns and concepts
  • Discourse analysis: Studying communication and meaning in relation to the broader social context  

Example: Qualitative Analysis

The interview transcripts underwent thematic analysis. This involved a multi-step coding process to identify the key themes across the participant narratives. The researcher first conducted open coding to tag relevant concepts and then reviewed and refined these codes into six central themes.

Mixed Methods Analysis

When employing a mixed methods approach, your analysis integrates quantitative and qualitative analytical techniques into a cohesive process.

Regardless of your specific analytical approach, the key is clearly explaining how you processed and examined your data without prematurely discussing the results. This equips your reader to understand and evaluate the rigor of your analytical procedures.

Step 4: Evaluate and Justify Your Methodological Choices

Above all, your methodology section should make a clear, compelling case for why you chose the specific methods you did. This is especially important if your approach diverges from the most standard practices in your field.

In such cases, you should discuss why other methods were not well-suited to addressing your research objectives and demonstrate how your chosen approach contributes new knowledge or understanding. Even if your methods align with disciplinary norms, you should still show how they best answer your problem statement and research questions.

It should be overwhelmingly clear to your reader that you designed your methodology to lead to valid and reliable results. While the methods section should avoid interpreting the meaning or significance of your findings, it should demonstrate that your procedures were rigorous and replicable.

Tip: You can acknowledge any limitations or weaknesses inherent in your chosen approach but justify why the overall strengths outweighed these drawbacks. 

For example:

  • Quantitative: Laboratory experiments may only partially simulate real-world situations, but they effectively test causal relationships between variables.
  • Qualitative: Unstructured interviews often produce findings that cannot be generalized beyond the sample group but provide rich, in-depth insights into participants’ perceptions and experiences.
  • Mixed Methods: Systematically integrating different data types can be challenging, but a solely quantitative study would not adequately capture participants’ lived experiences, while a solely qualitative study may lack sufficient generalizability.

Tips for Writing a Strong Methodology Chapter

Keep the following guidelines in mind as you craft your methodology section:

  • Focus on Your Objectives and Research Questions: Ensure the methodology aligns with and supports your research aims and problem statement.
  • Cite Relevant Sources: Reference existing literature to demonstrate that you followed established best practices or to introduce a novel methodological approach.  
  • Write Concisely for your audience. Provide sufficient detail without becoming overly lengthy, especially for standard methods in your field.
  • Avoid Premature Interpretation: Save any analysis or discussion of your findings for the dedicated results and discussion sections.