Structuring and writing a literature review.
Research design and methodology Qualitative and quantitative research methods.
The methodology section should generally be written in the past tense.
Researchers use three primary methodology types:
- qualitative
- quantitative
- mixed methods
Within these broad categories, more specific methods include an array of options, such as case studies, self reporting and surveys.
Choose a research methodology：
Research aims and objectives will form the basis for decisions on your approach to the methodology.
The first question you need to ask yourself is whether your research is exploratory or confirmatory in nature.
“Unlike quantitative studies which are concerned with outcomes, generalisation, prediction, and cause-effect relationships through deductive reasoning, qualitative studies are concerned with process, context, interpretation, meaning or under- standing through inductive reasoning.” (Yilmaz 2013)
Purpose：
When researchers document their studies, they typically include a methodology to describe the processes and outcomes of their research. If you’re covering a thesis topic, submitting a dissertation or documenting a project for your employer, including a methodology helps summarize your studies for readers who review your work. Additionally, the methodology is important for providing insight into the validity and reliability of your research. In this article, we explore what a methodology is, what to include in this part of your paper and how it differs from your research methods with an example of methodology in a research paper.
What is a methodology in a research paper?
- The methodology in a research paper, thesis paper or dissertation is the section in which you describe the actions you took to investigate and research a problem and your rationale for the specific processes and techniques you use within your research to identify, collect and analyse information that helps you understand the problem.
- The methodology section of your research paper allows readers to evaluate the overall validity and reliability of your study and gives important insight into two key elements of your research: your data collection and analysis processes and your rationale for conducting your research.
- When writing a methodology for a research paper, it’s important to keep the discussion clear and succinct and write in the past tense.
Methodology need to include：
•The first part of a methodology section usually describes the type of research you perform and how you develop your research methods.
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•This section also discusses the question or problem you investigate through your research and the type of data you need to perform evaluations and research assessments.
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•Additionally, the methodology often includes the criteria your experimental studies need to meet to produce valid and reliable evidence. The information you cover in this part of your methodology allows readers to gain insight into how you measure validity and reliability during your studies.
Differences between the methodology and methods：
Although the methodology section of your research paper includes details about the methods you use in your research, there are several differences between a methodology and the research methods you apply:
- Purpose：
The overall purpose of your methodology differs from the set of methods you use to apply to your research. While the methodology is the entire section of your research paper that describes your processes, the methods refer to the actual steps you take throughout your research to collect and analyse data. The methodology serves as a summary that demonstrates the validity and reliability of your methods, while the methods you detail in this section of your paper are the scientific approaches to test and make conclusions about the data you study.
- Format：
The format for a methodology differs from the format you use to list and explain your research and analysis methods. The methodology usually appears at the beginning of your paper and looks like a summary or essay in paragraph form detailing your research validity, process and rationale. The format you use to describe your research and analysis methods can take various forms, depending on the type of research, type of data and type of assessments you use.
- Content：
The purpose and format ultimately influence the content that you include in both your methodology and your research method details. However, the content within your entire methodology focuses on delivering a concise summary of your research, approaches and outcomes. Therefore, the content of your methodology includes all aspects of performing your studies.
The content in your research paper that details your collection and analysis methods differs because it’s often necessary to explain your scientific approaches and research processes with lists and visual aids (like charts or graphs) to support the information.
Structure Summary：
•Methodology; Describes the type of research you perform and how you develop your research methods, establishes the question or problem you investigate and the type of data you need to perform evaluations and research assessments.
•Data collection process; An explanation of experimental tests on samples, conducting surveys or interviews or analysis existing data.
•Data analysis process; The methods you use to organize, categorize and study the information you collect.
•Resources, materials and tools; The tools, materials and other resources you need for your research.
•Rationale behind the research; Should include why your studies are relevant, what industries your studies relate to and how other researchers can replicate your results .
A small video example was used in the class: When people earn more money, do they spend more money?
Use methodology to demonstrate the author’s point of view, advancing layer by layer.