The methodology is perhaps the most challenging and laborious part of the dissertation. The methodology helps in understanding the broad, philosophical approach behind the methods of research you chose to employ in your study. The research methodology elaborates on the ‘how’ part of your research.
This means that your methodology chapter should clearly state whether you chose to use quantitative or qualitative data collection techniques or a mix of both.
Your research methodology should explain the following:
You will be required to provide justifications as to why you preferred a certain method over the others. If you are trying to figure out exactly how to write methodology or the structure of a methodology for a dissertation, this article will point you in the right direction.
Table of Contents
Why Is Dissertation Methodology Important?
Your methodology allows others to replicate your research or critically evaluate your approach. It
demonstrates your academic integrity, research depth, and critical thinking.
A well-written methodology:
Here is a clear breakdown of what your methodology chapter should cover:
| Section | Description |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Why are you conducting the research? |
| Research Type | Is it experimental, observational, theoretical, etc.? |
| Approach | Qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods? |
| Data Collection | Surveys, interviews, secondary data, etc. |
| Data Analysis | Statistical methods, thematic analysis, etc. |
| Justification | Why were these methods chosen over others |
| Limitations | What challenges or biases may affect your findings? |
| Ethical Considerations | How did you address confidentiality, consent, etc.? |
Check out a simplified process to select the right methodology:
Tip
To research well, you should read well! Read as many research articles (from reputed journals) as you can.
Seeing how other researchers use methods in their studies and why will help you justify, in the long run,
your own research method(s).
The typical structure of the methodology chapter is as follows:
Note
In research jargon, generalisability is termed external validity . It means how generalisable your research
findings are to other contexts, places, times, people, etc. External validity is expected to be
significantly high, especially in quantitative studies
Here are the main sections that you need to add in your dissertation methodology:
Start your methodology chapter with a short overview that sets the context. Explain the purpose of this section, why methodology matters, and briefly state your research aims and objectives.
Describe the overall research strategy that guided your study. Mention whether your approach is:
| Research Design | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Exploratory | Explore a new area or phenomenon |
| Descriptive | Describe characteristics or patterns |
| Explanatory or Correlational | Examine relationships |
| Experimental or Causal | Determine cause-and-effect relationships |
| Longitudinal or Cross-sectional | Based on time horizon |
Here, explain how you collected your data. Detail the tools, techniques, and procedures you used, such as:
Also, mention:
Describe the techniques you used to analyse the collected data. Include:
You have to defend your methods.
Here, you must show that your research is trustworthy, credible, and replicable.
You also have to mention:
Address ethical responsibilities related to:
This section shows your awareness of research boundaries and increases academic honesty. You need to include the following:
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There are three primary types of research methodologies:
| Type | Focus | Techniques | Ideal For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qualitative | Meaning, experience, insight | Interviews, focus groups, case studies | Exploring subjective experiences and deep insights |
| Quantitative | Numbers, measurement, testing | Surveys, experiments, statistical modelling | Measuring relationships and testing hypotheses |
| Mixed Methods | Integration of both | Surveys + interviews, statistical + thematic | Holistic analysis using both breadth and depth |
Qualitative research focuses on exploring meanings, experiences, perceptions, and social phenomena. Instead of numbers, it relies on rich, non-numerical data such as words, narratives, and observations. It includes:
When to use qualitative methodology?
Quantitative research focuses on collecting and analysing numerical data to uncover patterns, relationships, or causal effects. It often involves statistical tools and aims for objectivity and generalisability. The methods consists of:
When to use quantitative methodology?
Mixed methods research integrates both qualitative and quantitative approaches within a single study to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the research problem.
Common Combinations:
When to use a mixed methods approach?
Before selecting your research method, it is essential to understand the philosophical foundation that underpins your study. These research philosophies shape how you interpret data, approach your research questions, and justify your methodological choices.
Your chosen philosophy helps you:
Here are the three most commonly used philosophical paradigms in dissertation writing:
Positivism is a scientific, objective research philosophy. It assumes that reality is stable and can be observed and described from an external, measurable perspective.
Use positivism when your research seeks to measure variables or test a theory using numerical data.
Interpretivism is a subjective and contextual research philosophy. It suggests that reality is socially constructed and best understood through the perspectives of those experiencing it.
You can use interpretivism when your goal is to explore complex human behaviours, motivations, or cultural phenomena in depth.
Pragmatism is a flexible, practical philosophy that prioritises the research problem itself over any one method or worldview. It blends both objective and subjective perspectives to find workable solutions.
When your research problem is complex and needs both numbers and narratives for a complete understanding, pragmatism is an excellent choice.
Whether you are using primary or secondary data, qualitative or quantitative approaches, your methodology must clearly explain how and why your data was collected and analysed in a specific way.
Your dissertation should clearly describe:
Here is the main difference between primary and secondary data.
| Data Type | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Data | Data you collected first-hand | Responses from interviews, survey results |
| Secondary Data | Existing data collected by others | Government reports, academic databases, datasets like Eurostat or Statista |
Your data analysis section should focus on what you did with the data once it was collected. It needs to cover
1. Preparation and organisation of data
2. Analytical strategy
3. Tools and frameworks used
4. Interpretation of results
You must go beyond listing tools or steps. Always include:
Example
“NVivo was used to analyse interview transcripts because it supports thematic coding and allows pattern
recognition across qualitative responses.”
Example
“Multiple regression analysis was chosen due to the need to test the relationship between three independent
variables and one dependent variable.”
| Criterion | Considerations |
|---|---|
| Reliability | How consistent are your analysis results if repeated? Mention any coding reliability checks or standardisation steps. |
| Validity | How accurately does your analysis reflect the reality you are studying? Did you triangulate data sources or cross-validate results? |
| Transparency | Make your process repeatable. Share coding frames, statistical models, or analysis steps in appendices if needed. |
Here is a brief example:
This study adopted a mixed-methods approach using both surveys and interviews. Quantitative data was collected via an online questionnaire with 150 respondents. Qualitative data was gathered through semi-structured interviews. SPSS and NVivo were used for data analysis. The approach was justified based on the complexity of the research question.
For a detailed example of dissertation methodology, click here.
Your research must adhere to ethical guidelines, such as:
You also have to mention limitations in your dissertations like:
A methodology should include your research design, data collection methods, analysis techniques, justifications, ethical considerations, reliability, validity, and limitations. Each section should explain how and why specific methods were used to address your research questions.
Choose a methodology based on your research questions, objectives, data availability, and philosophical stance. Qualitative works well for exploring experiences, quantitative for testing theories, and mixed methods for combining both depth and breadth.
Qualitative methodology explores meanings and experiences using interviews or observations. Quantitative methodology focuses on measurable data using surveys and statistical analysis. The choice depends on whether your research seeks depth (qualitative) or measurement (quantitative).
Yes, using both is called a mixed methods approach. It offers a comprehensive view by combining numerical data with personal insights. It is useful for complex research questions that require both statistical evidence and contextual understanding.
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