Dissertation notes
Mary
METHODOLOGY – NOTES
WRITING THE METHODOLOGY CHAPTER
The methodology chapter is relatively straightforward to write since it essentially discusses and justifies
the various research design decisions that you have made.
Your discussions and justifications should be informed, so
please refer to methodological literature, where appropriate.
Try to provide as much detail as you can too.
It is also written in the past tense, and in third person.
Usually, this chapter is around 2,000 – 3,000 words.
STRUCTURE
The structure of the methodology chapter is fairly standard, so most will look the same.
Obviously, there may be some alterations – especially if you’re doing case studies or content analyses, etc.
The three outlines and notes are tailored more towards the main studies for dissertations:
Qualitative study – green
Quantitative study – blue
Mixed OR Multi-Methods study – red
CHAPTER 3 – METHODOLOGY – QUALITATIVE
Introduction
In this section, just introduce the chapter and provide an outline of the structure of the
chapter. Should just be a sentence or two.
Research aim / objectives
In this section, simply state the overall research aim, and then (three/four) research
objectives or questions. Ensure that the wording is exactly the same as in the Introduction
chapter and the Literature Review.
Research philosophy
In this section, provide rationale for interpretivism as the overall philosophy guiding your
study. You may refer to the overall research aim in your justification.
One succinct paragraph is fine for this.
, Dissertation notes
Mary
Research design
In this section, justify the qualitative research methodology, in particular emphasising the
advantages or benefits of using qualitative research (and conversely the disadvantages of
quantitative research). Then talk about the overall research design as being exploratory, and
consider whether this is a mono or multi-method study, if applicable.
Use methodological literature where possible. This section should be a paragraph or two.
Data collection
Individual in-depth interviews / Focus groups
In this section, justify the choice to do individual interviews / focus groups.
Explain why interviews / focus groups is best suited to your research objectives,
relative to other qualitative methods, so you may mention the advantages or
benefits, etc. Use methodological literature where possible.
This section should be a paragraph or two.
Interview guide / Focus group topic guide design
In this section, talk through the design / structure of the interview guide. Essentially
you should justify the semi-structured nature of the guide, and consider where
appropriate, question sequencing, question style or wording, projective techniques or
tasks. This should be a paragraph or two.
Sampling and recruitment
In this section, state and justify the sampling method used (usually convenience or
purposive sampling); the sample criteria; and then detail the recruitment procedures.
You may comment upon the representativeness of your sample.
This section should be a paragraph or two.
You should also have a table with details of all your participants too.
Data analysis
In this section, talk the verbatim transcription, how you coded the transcripts, and process of
thematic analysis (can include the construction of the coding schemes, thematic tables,
etc). Use methodological literature where possible.
This section should be a paragraph or two.
Ethical considerations
In this section, talk about the various ethical considerations: voluntary participation, informed
consent, anonymity, confidentiality, harm prevention, etc. One succinct paragraph is fine.
Limitations
In this section, go through all the potential limitations of the study – try to be as expansive
and critical as possible - limitations of qualitative methodologies; limitations of focus groups /
individual interviews; limitations of sampling method/sample size; anything else.
This can be a big paragraph or several smaller ones.
Summary
In this section, just summarise the whole chapter briefly and then link to the next chapter.
(in the appendix, you should have the interview / focus group guide, one transcript,
all the coding and thematic tables)
Mary
METHODOLOGY – NOTES
WRITING THE METHODOLOGY CHAPTER
The methodology chapter is relatively straightforward to write since it essentially discusses and justifies
the various research design decisions that you have made.
Your discussions and justifications should be informed, so
please refer to methodological literature, where appropriate.
Try to provide as much detail as you can too.
It is also written in the past tense, and in third person.
Usually, this chapter is around 2,000 – 3,000 words.
STRUCTURE
The structure of the methodology chapter is fairly standard, so most will look the same.
Obviously, there may be some alterations – especially if you’re doing case studies or content analyses, etc.
The three outlines and notes are tailored more towards the main studies for dissertations:
Qualitative study – green
Quantitative study – blue
Mixed OR Multi-Methods study – red
CHAPTER 3 – METHODOLOGY – QUALITATIVE
Introduction
In this section, just introduce the chapter and provide an outline of the structure of the
chapter. Should just be a sentence or two.
Research aim / objectives
In this section, simply state the overall research aim, and then (three/four) research
objectives or questions. Ensure that the wording is exactly the same as in the Introduction
chapter and the Literature Review.
Research philosophy
In this section, provide rationale for interpretivism as the overall philosophy guiding your
study. You may refer to the overall research aim in your justification.
One succinct paragraph is fine for this.
, Dissertation notes
Mary
Research design
In this section, justify the qualitative research methodology, in particular emphasising the
advantages or benefits of using qualitative research (and conversely the disadvantages of
quantitative research). Then talk about the overall research design as being exploratory, and
consider whether this is a mono or multi-method study, if applicable.
Use methodological literature where possible. This section should be a paragraph or two.
Data collection
Individual in-depth interviews / Focus groups
In this section, justify the choice to do individual interviews / focus groups.
Explain why interviews / focus groups is best suited to your research objectives,
relative to other qualitative methods, so you may mention the advantages or
benefits, etc. Use methodological literature where possible.
This section should be a paragraph or two.
Interview guide / Focus group topic guide design
In this section, talk through the design / structure of the interview guide. Essentially
you should justify the semi-structured nature of the guide, and consider where
appropriate, question sequencing, question style or wording, projective techniques or
tasks. This should be a paragraph or two.
Sampling and recruitment
In this section, state and justify the sampling method used (usually convenience or
purposive sampling); the sample criteria; and then detail the recruitment procedures.
You may comment upon the representativeness of your sample.
This section should be a paragraph or two.
You should also have a table with details of all your participants too.
Data analysis
In this section, talk the verbatim transcription, how you coded the transcripts, and process of
thematic analysis (can include the construction of the coding schemes, thematic tables,
etc). Use methodological literature where possible.
This section should be a paragraph or two.
Ethical considerations
In this section, talk about the various ethical considerations: voluntary participation, informed
consent, anonymity, confidentiality, harm prevention, etc. One succinct paragraph is fine.
Limitations
In this section, go through all the potential limitations of the study – try to be as expansive
and critical as possible - limitations of qualitative methodologies; limitations of focus groups /
individual interviews; limitations of sampling method/sample size; anything else.
This can be a big paragraph or several smaller ones.
Summary
In this section, just summarise the whole chapter briefly and then link to the next chapter.
(in the appendix, you should have the interview / focus group guide, one transcript,
all the coding and thematic tables)
