The methodology chapter justifies your research design and demonstrates rigour. Learn how to structure this critical chapter with clear connections between research questions, methods, and analysis.
Each component must be clearly described and justified with scholarly sources
Positivism, interpretivism, pragmatism, or critical realism - justify your epistemological stance.
Define target population, sampling frame, sampling technique (probability/non-probability), and sample size justification.
Surveys, interviews, experiments, observations, or secondary data - describe instruments and procedures.
Statistical tests (SPSS/R), thematic analysis, regression models, or NVivo - specify software and steps.
Select the methodology that best answers your research question and aligns with your philosophical stance
Focuses on understanding meanings, experiences, and social contexts through non-numerical data.
Exploring "how" or "why" questions, understanding lived experiences, or generating new theories.
Tests relationships between variables using numerical data and statistical analysis.
Testing hypotheses, measuring variables, establishing causality, or making generalisable predictions.
Combines qualitative and quantitative approaches for deeper understanding.
Quantitative results need qualitative explanation, or when developing and testing instruments.
Verify each element before submitting your chapter
Explained why this design is appropriate for your research questions, with citations from methodology texts.
Described target population, sampling frame, technique, and sample size with justification.
Included survey questions, interview protocols, observation templates, or data source details.
Specified statistical tests, coding procedures, or other analysis techniques and software used.
Informed consent, confidentiality, data storage, and IRB reference number included.
Every methodology chapter must address these ethical dimensions
Participants must understand the study purpose, procedures, risks, and their right to withdraw.
Remove identifying information. Store data securely with access restrictions.
Encrypted storage, access controls, retention periods, and disposal plans.
Include approval reference number and date of ethical clearance.
Each section must be present and logically connected to form a coherent methodology chapter
State your philosophical position (positivism/interpretivism) and how it shaped your design choices.
Define your target population, sampling frame, sample size, and sampling technique justification.
Describe surveys, interview protocols, observation guides, or existing datasets used.
Specify statistical tests (t-test, ANOVA, regression) or qualitative coding procedures.
Address internal/external validity, reliability, triangulation, and researcher bias.
Distinguish between limitations (uncontrollable) and delimitations (your choices).