A research methodology section explains how the study was designed, why specific research methods were selected, and how data were collected and analysed. It shows readers that your research was systematic, reliable, and replicable.
A strong methodology section:
- Proves that your research was systematic and credible
- Helps others replicate your study
- Shows transparency in the research process
- Connects your research questions, data, and results
What Is The Methodology In A Research Paper?
When a methodology section is added to a research paper, it helps readers understand different data collection and analysing methods used in the research. It also significantly helps them evaluate the reliability and validity of the research. Research methodology is usually written in the past tense, as all the activities done are added to it.
Definition Of Methodology In A Research Paper
The methodology in a research paper is the section that describes the research design, data collection techniques, analytical methods, tools used, and the rationale behind choosing them. It helps readers understand how the research was conducted and allows them to judge its validity and reliability.
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Example Of Methodology In A Research Paper
Here is an example of methodology in a research paper that will significantly help you understand this concept thoroughly:
This research focuses on understanding how remote working has impacted employees’ productivity. After the COVID-19 pandemic, almost everything, including work and education, went online. This significantly impacted the psychological and physical health of employees. That’s why it’s crucial to understand how it has positively or negatively impacted their productivity.
The team decided to choose mixed-method research because we wanted to get both objective and subjective data to calculate productivity and the different challenges faced by employees. The unique data collection methods that we chose are visual ethnographic and surveys. Ethnography helped us understand the interactions and communications of employees in remote settings. Surveys helped us study the self-reported productivity of employees.
The data collection methods we used in this research are virtual ethnography, surveys, interviews, and document analysis. The data analysis methods we used are statistical analysis for quantitative data, thematic analysis for qualitative data, and document analysis for comparative study. This research falls under the criteria of reliability, validity, and ethics.
The limitations that we faced in this research are sample size, self-reported data, and technological and research bias.
Different Types Of Methodology In A Research Paper
After defining the research methodology efficiently, it’s time to discuss the different types of methodology in a research paper. Research is usually done to provide any solutions to the existing gap.
1. Quantitative
Quantitative research is a type of research methodology that deals with establishing a deep understanding of a particular event or phenomenon using numerical data. It is widely used in economics, medicine, and engineering. Different methods are involved in quantitative research, such as surveys, experiments, and statistical analyses.
Quantitative research significantly allows researchers to identify trends, patterns, and relationships in a large dataset to derive particular conclusions. By using this research, researchers provide various solutions to different ongoing problems in society or all over the world. It is an objective approach as it deals with numerical data and information, unlike qualitative research, which is concerned with subjective data.
Results and conclusions derived from quantitative research are presented to a broader array of the human population.
2. Qualitative
Qualitative research is a type of research methodology that deals with the understanding of a phenomenon or an event using non-numerical data. As quantitative research involves close-ended questions, qualitative research revolves around open-ended questions. The main goal of this research is to establish an understanding of a phenomenon using the subjective point of view of human beings.
Qualitative research is predominantly used in psychology, sociology, and anthropology. By using qualitative research, complexities of human behaviour, attitudes, and experiences are analysed and evaluated. It helps researchers to understand the deep motivations and meaning behind human actions.
Researchers use qualitative research to collect subjective data and information from various participants and key sources to provide extensive key conclusions about a certain human psychological problem.
3. Mixed-Method
Mixed-method research refers to the understanding of a particular event or phenomenon by using both numerical and non-numerical data and information. It integrates both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and provides a more holistic perspective. Mixed-method research is widely used in education, public health, and social sciences efficiently.
Mixed-method research allows researchers to gather both subjective and objective data and information to develop a deep and comprehensive understanding of the research question. It provides researchers with a clearer picture than what they can get in quantitative or qualitative research.
Mixed-method research doesn’t just mean collecting both objective and subjective types of data, but also deeply studying the relationship between the two. This significantly helps to draw coherent conclusions.
Importance Of Methodology In A Research Paper
Research methodology refers to the practical explanation of the methods, processes, and strategies used to address the research problem and meet the study objectives. It covers both the technical steps and the reasoning behind those choices.
Parts Of Methodology In A Research Paper
Here are the parts of methodology in a research paper:
- Part 1: It includes the type of research that you’re conducting.
- Part 2: It includes all the data collection and analysis methods.
- Part 3: It includes all the particular tools or materials used during the research.
- Part 4: It includes necessary tips and strategies used to avoid research bias.
- Part 5: It includes all the reasons to choose these methods.
Agile Methodology Research Paper
Agile methodology in a research paper refers to a project management framework that focuses on breaking down a project into different dynamic phases. These phases are called sprints.
Whenever a team incorporates agile methodology, they look back at every sprint and look for the required changes. It significantly helps them adjust their project till the next sprint.
Waterfall Methodology Research Paper
Waterfall methodology in a research paper refers to a project management framework in which each phase falls downward to the next, like a waterfall. Here are the five stages of waterfall methodology: requirements, design, implementation, verification, and maintenance.
Unlike agile methodology, one stage of the waterfall methodology must be completed to begin the next. It does not allow flexibility.
Waterfall methodology progresses step-by-step through sequential stages:
requirements → design → implementation → verification → maintenance.
How To Write The Methodology Section Of A Research Paper?
After elaborately discussing the types and importance of the methodology of a research paper, let’s check out the essential steps to write the methodology of a research paper.
Step 1: Re-Analyse the Research Problem
If you are also looking to know how to start methodology in a research paper, the first step is to re-analyse the research problem. Whatever assumptions or variables you have added to your research paper, re-elaborate them. It significantly helps readers follow research methodology from beginning to end.
Step 2: Explain the Research Type You Chose
After you have re-elaborated and analysed the research problem, it’s time to explain the research type that you chose. Whether you have chosen quantitative, qualitative or mixed-method research, explain it efficiently. Also, explain the reasons for choosing that particular research type.
Step 3: Clarify Any Unique Methods Used
If you have incorporated some unusual and out of the way methods in your research, you must clarify it in your methodology. It significantly helps readers understand the uniqueness that you have poured into your research. It also allows other researchers to try new practices rather than clinging to the previous ones.
Step 4: Explain Different Data Collection Methods
The next step is to explain comprehensively the data collection methods that you used to gather data and information for your research. Explain about all the tools and equipment used for data collection. Provide an explanation if you used any existing data and information relevant to your research question.
Step 5: Elaborate Different Data Analysis Methods
After data collection comes data analysis. When you have thoroughly explained different data collection methods, elaborate on the different data analysis methods that you used. Whether you use qualitative or quantitative research, enlist all the steps that you took to ensure the accuracy of the collected data.
Step 6: Describe the Criteria Used in Your Approach
Criteria is a very important part of your research methodology. It helps readers understand all the required parameters and limits of your research. Thoroughly describe the criteria you used in choosing your research type and methodology. Present your personal opinion to support your choices in choosing the criteria.
Step 7: Explain the Research Limitations
After explaining the criteria of your approach, the next step is to explain the limitations you faced during your research process elaborately. It will help readers understand the possibility of problems in research. Also, enlist all the problem-solving steps that you took to overcome those limitations efficiently.
Step 8: Add the Proper Citations of Sources You Used
Citations are the references to the content taken from a particular book or report. After taking all the above-discussed steps efficiently, add the proper citations of the sources that you used in formulating and writing the whole of your research methodology. This will significantly help you demonstrate the validity and authenticity of your research study.
Frequently Asked Questions
Methodology in a research paper refers to all the tips and techniques that researchers use to address research questions and objectives. A good methodology section of a research paper doesn’t just deal with the “what” aspect of research but also the “why” aspect of research.
The weightage of methodology in a research paper is 10%. If the length of your research paper is 10,000 words, the methodology should be 1000-1500 words.
These are the different types of methodology in a research paper:
- Quantitative
- Qualitative
- Mined-method
Methodology is important because it ensures transparency in the research process, helps readers evaluate the credibility of the study, and allows other researchers to replicate the results.
A methodology section should include the research type, data collection methods, data analysis techniques, sampling strategy, tools used, ethical considerations, and justification for each method.
To write a strong methodology, restate your research problem, define your research type, describe your data collection and analysis methods, explain your criteria and tools, discuss limitations, and cite all sources.
Methods refer to the tools and techniques used for data collection and analysis, while methodology explains the logic, reasoning, and framework behind selecting those methods.
Yes. This is called a mixed-method approach, where both numerical and narrative data are combined for a more comprehensive understanding of the research problem.
You justify your methodology by explaining why specific methods were chosen, how they align with your research objectives, and how they ensure reliability, validity, and accuracy.
Common data collection methods include surveys, interviews, experiments, focus groups, observations, document analysis, and ethnographic techniques.
Research limitations are constraints like small sample sizes, access issues, time restrictions, self-reported bias, or technological challenges that may affect the study’s outcomes.
The methodology should be written in the past tense, because it describes the steps that have already been completed.
