There are five major sections in a research paper, and methodology is one of them. This section is that part of your paper where you present your findings during your research. It contains a detailed presentation of the research process used in supporting your findings, explaining the techniques you used.
Essentially, your dissertation methodology describes your research tactics and also explains the methods you chose and why you chose them. If you are confused about this part, this article will explain, in as much detail as possible, how to write a dissertation methodology.
What is methodology in dissertation and why is it important?
Methodology for dissertation is the section of the paper that discusses and explains how you collected and analyzed your data. It is an essential part of a dissertation that explains how you carried out your research. Your readers can access and evaluate the validity and reliability of your dissertation through your methodology. Thus, the methodology section of a dissertation is important because it gives legitimacy to our research.
Your readers expect that you followed the accepted practices so that your assertions and conclusions are legitimate and valid. More so, other researchers need to be able to repeat your methodology, reaching the same conclusions you did.
What are the elements of a good research methodology dissertation?
There are certain things common in great dissertation methodology examples and that your dissertation should possess. First, you need to remember that you are not simply describing your methods; you need to explain how and why you used them. Below are three essential elements a good research methodology dissertation should have:
- Objective-focused: the dissertation should be focused on your objectives and research questions, showing why your chosen methods are the best option. It must convince your audience that your approach is the best in answering your research questions.
- Relevant sources: a good dissertation methodology should cite relevant sources to strengthen the paper. Citing sources helps you present a novel methodological approach to addressing a knowledge gap in your field.
- Audience-centered: your dissertation should be written for your audience; that means it should be clear and well-structured. It also means you are not simply listing technical procedures and details.
How to write research methodology in dissertation
Now, let’s get to the standard methodology dissertation structure; how do you write a research methodology in dissertation? Below is a step-by-step instruction for writing a dissertation methodology:
- Reiterate your thesis
First, reiterate your thesis or research problem; this helps your readers understand and follow the chapter well. By restating your thesis, you are also giving yourself a chance to address whatever assumptions you made in the research.
- Explain your approach
Next, explain the research method you chose – for example, is it quantitative research or qualitative? After stating the research type, explain the philosophy behind your choice: why exactly did you choose this research type?
- Explain vague methodology
Ensure you clarify any part of the research process that is outside your field’s usual practices. There is already evidence that your findings are valid; provide a strong statement concerning why you chose an alternative method – if you did.
- Explain your data collection method
State what type of data you used, whether qualitative or quantitative, the experiments you conducted, and how you designed them. Furthermore, if there are variables, describe how you measured them and the tools you used in doing that.
- Explain your analysis
The next step is to explain how you analyzed the data you gathered during the research. Don’t discuss your results or conclude; simply list the steps you took to prove the accuracy of your results.
- Justify your choices
Explain your criteria in choosing your research approach and also list potential weaknesses with evidence to support your choice. Also, you may give a brief evaluation of an alternative methodology you may have used.
Conclusion
Writing a dissertation methodology takes dexterity and knowing what and what not to include. If you are still unsure how to go about writing yours, sourcing for a methodology for dissertation example may help.