Research Methodology

Now that you have an understanding of what a research methodology is, let’s go over how one can write a research methodology using four constructive steps: 

• Determine your Methodological Approach: In the first step of writing your research methodology, you can provide an explanation of the overall methodological approach of your research. This should include an explanation of your research problem and the type of data (quantitative/qualitative, primary/secondary) you will require to answer it. 
• Outline the Methods of Data Collection: The next step is to describe the methods of data collection that you will be using in your research. There are many different methods that can be used to gather data. Quantitative methods of data collection include experiments, surveys, and existing literature. Qualitative methods of data collection include participant observation, focus groups, interviews, and existing literature. 
• Outline the Methods of Analysis: This step requires you to outline the methods of analysis that you will be using in your research. If you’re conducting research that is quantitative in nature, you should include any data preparation techniques, statistical tests, or even software used to analyse your data. If you’re conducting research that is qualitative in nature, you should include any methods of content analysis, thematic analysis, or discourse analysis used in your research. 
• Justify your Choices: The final step is to evaluate and justify all your methodological choices. You can elaborate on why other methods were not suitable for your research and why the methods you chose were best suited to achieve your research objectives and arrive at an outcome that is reliable and valid. You should acknowledge the limitations and weaknesses of the approaches chosen, while also justifying how these were outweighed by the strengths.