You will need to discuss the methods and techniques you used in the course of your PhD research; this is the methodology. The dissertation methodology chapter discusses the details of your research work and how you carried it out. It provides readers with information for evaluating the validity and credibility of the study.
The dissertation methodology is technical and requires the ability to pay attention to detail. This article will serve as a dissertation methodology help, showing you how to write a strong dissertation methodology.
What is a dissertation methodology?
The methodology chapter of a dissertation comes immediately after the literature review section, flowing organically from it. At this stage, you must have defined your research question and given a concise review of the opinions of other scholars in your field. In addition, you must have reviewed how these scholars came to their conclusions. You will have devised a means of tackling your research question using your observations and discussions with your supervisor.
The methodology section of your dissertation will provide details of how you’ll approach your dissertation and why you chose that approach.
What should be in the methodology section of dissertation?
Your dissertation methodology should establish a connection between your research questions, the current scholarship in the field you studied, and your research method. Thus, regardless of the topic or area you’re working on, your methodology chapter should include:
- A quick recap of the research questions you posed at the beginning of the study. You may want to restate the questions such that they bridge your methodology and literature review.
- A clear explanation and description of how you gathered and analyzed your data. It should be detailed and un-ambiguous such that another scholar can read and apply it to their own work.
- The background of your research method, discussing the reasons for choosing it and why you believe it will yield the best innovative perspective.
- An honest but unapologetic evaluation of your research method and its limitations.
What should not be in research methodology dissertation?
Your dissertation methodology should not include the following:
- An exhaustive review of methodologies you don’t intend to use; these are meant to be in the literature review chapter.
- Too long and too detailed lists of methods and equipment used in the dissertation research. You want your methodology to be informative; at the same time, it shouldn’t begin to look like a shopping list. You can always add those excess details to an appendix at the end of the paper.
- A reproduction of raw data, even if it’s to illustrate how it works; this can also go in the appendix section.
How to write dissertation methodology
In four easy steps, let’s discuss how to write an awesome methodology dissertation:
Step 1: Discuss your approach
Introduce your approach to the research and the rationale and assumptions of your methodology. You will make reference to your research questions, what your research is about, and the type of data you need to carry it out. For example, a methodology dissertation example may use quantitative or qualitative data. Also, discuss how you gathered your primary data: yourself or using secondary data?
Step 2: Explain your techniques for collecting data
Describe how you collected your data after discussing your methodological approach. For example, did you use quantitative or quantitative methods? Quantitative data includes surveys, experiments, and existing data, while qualitative methods include interviews, participant observation, and, also, existing data.
Step 3: Indicate your data analysis method
The next step is describing how you processed the data you gathered, refraining from giving too much detail. You want to be direct and brief; don’t present or discuss your results at this stage.
Step 4: Analyze and justify your choice of methodology
Finally, make your case for why you chose the methods you used in the research. Also, explain why you couldn’t use other methods and how your chosen approach contributes to new knowledge.
In conclusion, one of the secrets to writing an excellent methodology is ensuring it is well-structured with all the right information. You can consult an example of methodology in dissertation for a guide on how to go about writing yours.
