Your methodology chapter is an integral part of your research project. This is your chance to demonstrate that your research is credible and that people look forward to what you say at the end. You have to demonstrate that your data collection method is valid and you haven’t made that up.
Philosophical Approach
Start by discussing the broad philosophical approaches of your research. Your research chapter method should start broad, focussing on the more specific details you go through. Would your research be aligned with the scientific approach of things being black or white that tends to be with quantitative study or will it take a more sensual approach, considering aspects such as how, and why, this is generally aligned with the qualitative approach?
Discuss your choice of research approach
Research approaches are usually Quantitative, qualitative, or both. So, in your research methodology chapter, you need to have a detailed section about whether your research is quantitative, qualitative, or both and why, underpinned, most importantly, by academic references.
Quantitative Research
These tend to focus on numbers, often undertaken in the form of data collected through surveys. This approach is popular among scientists and it’s great for approving and disapproving things. It’s beneficial as it allows you to collect large amounts of data, in turn making your research more valuable and quantifiable. It is limited as it doesn’t occur for aspects such as why or how.
Qualitative Research
These are all about the why(s) and How(s). Generally associated with words, rather than numbers. It tends to provide a smaller sample size which is one of the limitations. However, the data is generally rich and meaningful. Qualitative research is great and provides an understanding of the social situation not easily measured using quantitative ways. There are a lot of ways to collect data for qualitative research through focus groups.
Some researchers use both Quantitative and Qualitative methods. For example, a survey might not provide a detailed explanation but provide broader information. Whichever approach you use, you need to write about that in detail in your methodology chapter and you need to justify it with academic references.
Analyse your research method
You need to focus on the specific research method you have decided to use. So, you should begin by explaining your research method broadly. Whether they are going to be structured or semi-structured. How long it’s going to be. If you are doing surveys, you need to explain whether they are going to be paper-based or online surveys and what kinds of questions are going to be included. Whether they are closed questions, open-ended questions, or questions with choices to choose from, etc., And what platform use are going to use, Word, Google Forms, etc.,
In this section of your research method’s chapter, you need to explicitly describe the details of your research method for data collection. You also need to discuss the benefits and the limitations which must again be supported by the academic references. You shouldn’t be worried about acknowledging the limitation, no research method is going to be perfect.
Lastly, you need to what you are going to do with the data once you have it. You need to explain the analyses, the techniques, and then where and how you started it.
Be critical about your sampling technique
Who are you collecting data from? In this section, you need to clearly explain and justify who you are survey respondents are and why.
For example, I am doing research on Noise pollution in the Airport. I may select the residents who stay within a 5-mile radius of the Airport. And I need to explain how many interviews are appropriate to gauge this for my research and all of these need to be supported with academic references. There are different sampling methods available to you as a researcher. Talk about that and also about the benefits and limitations with references. It’s through the known random sampling as you can’t ask everyone in that street, however you need to have maximum samples for your research.
Be an ethical researcher
Your research should be ethical, you even might be asked to get approval for your researchers from your University to keep your research ethical. This is to be compliant with your University regulations and guidelines.Store data in a secure place
You have to critically review them and support them with references. Discuss why it’s not great and why it works for you.
- Confidentiality
- Changing the names of respondents
- Obtaining consent from respondents
- Not addressing any topics/issues that are deemed to be unfair, illegal, discriminatory, etc.,
- Don’t be afraid to be critical
Don’t be afraid to be critical
You have to critically review them and support them with references. Discuss why it’s not great and why it works for you.
Use references
You should have as many references for your literature review and your research as such.
Conclusion
Following the right methodology and explaining it in a well-structured manner helps you present your research with confidence and value. Digi Assignment is the best resort to give you such guidance and helps you to structure and explain your research well.
