Introducing your research methodology section in your dissertation requires that you follow a certain structure and format, but knowing how to do this can make it so much easier.
First you will need to decide on the types of research methodology to use. However, regardless of whether you use qualitative data collection methods, or quantitative data collection methods, know that academic writing will be an important part of your university experience.
Besides knowing how to cite references at the end of your academic papers, you need to know how to detail the steps that helped you to arrive at your dissertation conclusions.
If you are looking for tips on research design and methodology, then keep reading. Whether you are using qualitative data collection methods or quantitative data collection methods, this article will provide you with guidance.
Reasons for Research Design and Methodology
Any good article relies on the corroboration of sources to produce anything of credibility.
This is why planning your research design and methodology is critical. Demonstrating the reliability and validity of your work is crucial to your readers.
Research design and methodology means:
- introducing research methodology upfront
- outlining the types of research methodology
- describing qualitative data collection methods
- describing quantitative data collection methods
- Reasons for choosing your topic
Following this you will need to provide a description of how you researched your topic. This will include the qualitative data collection methods, as well as quantitative data collection methods that you chose. Introducing research methodology and going into detail about the types of research methodology that you chose indicates that you have an organised and analytical mind.
Not unlike how you would rationalise needing something new, make sure that you clearly explain your reasons, thoughts and ideas behind your academic writing.
Another good reason for introducing research methodology as best as you can is because careers that call for a PhD usually require research.
In short, just about every career field needs to formulate hypotheses and conduct research. Whether you are involved in field or case study research, besides introducing research methodology, you will also need to disclose your findings along the way.
Remember that your dissertation is not a once off event, but rather one that will prepare you for a world that constantly demands proof and data.
Read here for more information on research analysis and presenting your findings.
Types of Research Methodology: Choosing Data
In this section, start by disclosing your general approach to either qualitative data collection methods or quantitative data collection methods.
Start by asking what is your argument and what type of data is needed to prove it.
If your subject requires categorising, ranking, identifying and measuring patterns, you could use quantitative methods to make your assumptions. This methodology type is especially effective if the bulk of your data is derived from market-driven research or surveys.
Alternatively, you may want to provide insight into a particular concept or phenomenon that uses qualitative data collection methods for research simply because they are best at interpreting or describing ideas that fit into a larger context.
In introducing your research methodology be sure to indicate whether it is quantitative, qualitative or mixed.
If your research demands qualitative methodology, make sure that you provide a description of where, when and how your information was obtained. For instance, did you rely on existing data or conduct interviews? Did you manage focus groups or did you set up an observation event where the reactions of participants were observed?
If you research was qualitative, you would provide details about your surveys, information about your experiments, as well as how you arrived at your conclusions.
Regardless of your types of research methods, in introducing them, make sure that you are as explicit as possible.
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Introducing Research Methodology for Data Analysis
As crucial as data gathering is, the way that it is analysed is even more so. Keep this section of your methodology as succinct as you can because you do not need to reveal too much of the discussion at this point.
Bearing in mind quantitative methodology is based on numbers, you should disclose which software or application you used for analysing numerical data. You should also outline any statistical methods used as well as how data was prepared for your analysis.
Qualitative methods, on the other hand, rely on observation and language which means that you will need to divulge how you categorised ideas as well as the analysis that you uncovered through a narrative discourse.
Mixed-methods of research will include both qualitative and quantitative measures.
Tip: The literature review phase of your dissertation should focus on gaps in research that could lead to a short list of topics. Remember to highlight all the gaps in your research design and methodology section if they happen to be relevant to your analysis methods.
Tools, Materials and Rationale for Data Selection
Bear in mind that this dissertation section is the place to defend your methodologies especially if you have taken a less than standard approach to your topic.
Be sure to explain the reasons for your methods and why other options would not be suitable.
You should also point out how your analysis could open up new avenues of research or add to existing bodies of knowledge particularly if traditional methods limit the research rather than the scope.
For example, if you are conducting psychology research, you will find that lab condition will never replicate real life behaviours and situations. This is why your interviews with your subjects will be crucial.
When you justify your research in this manner there is room to include lab experiments for the effective examining of psychological phenomena and causal relationships.
In short: when you describe the depth of your research, as well as your limitations it will lend both credibility and authority to your work.
Note: Before writing your research methodology section make sure that you first read up on the dissertation guidelines as outlined by your university. Their version of how to write a dissertation will also include formatting.
Final Tips
In summary, your dissertations research methodology section should do the following:
- Explain your approach.
- Describe your methods for data collection as well as your reasons for selecting that data.
- Describe the methods that you used to analyse your data.
- Evaluate and provide a description of your choice of methods.
- Write in the past tense.
Finally, remember that the purpose of your research methodology section is to provide the how and the why for your work. It should not reveal conclusions but should rather demonstrate that your work was meticulously done while it also discloses any pitfalls that you have encountered.
Besides linking your research choices to the main purpose of your dissertation, you should aim to prove that you decided on the best course of action to answer your research question and problem statement.
Cite sources that are relevant to your topic and field of research.
When you cite sources you also confirm that you have followed standard practices for your choice in research type. Furthermore, citing also makes the case for new approaches and methodologies by analysing data and even highlighting gaps in existing literature.
Even though your methodology should be technical and detailed, remember that your readers will not necessarily be subject matter experts. Therefore, remember to write for your audience. If your field has a vocabulary of its own, be sure to explain important jargon upfront or even provide a glossary of terms for more technical words.
Similarly, if you have followed standard methods for your research, you may not need to provide as much detail or context. Having said this, be sure to lay out your reasons for choices as well as any challenges and obstacles that you encountered during the analysing of it.
When you show that your research was conducted in the most meticulous way possible, you can be sure that not only will your approach be justified, but you will also avoid any unnecessarily harsh critiques of your work.
If you are still wondering where to begin choosing a dissertation topic, make sure you read our article in this series for all the tips.
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