How to Write a Methodology Chapter

A methodology chapter tells the reader what you did, why, and why alternatives were rejected. UK examiners look for justification, coherence and ethical reflection.

Step-by-step

1. Step 1: Restate your research question
   One paragraph. Anchors what follows.
2. Step 2: Declare philosophy
   State ontology (what is real?) and epistemology (what can we know?). Justify positivist, interpretivist or pragmatist stance.
3. Step 3: Justify design
   Explain your choice of qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods against your question.
4. Step 4: Detail sampling and data collection
   Population, sample size, instrument (survey, interview, dataset), pilot testing.
5. Step 5: Explain analysis approach
   Thematic analysis, regression, structural equation modelling, whatever fits. Justify against alternatives.
6. Step 6: Address ethics
   Consent, anonymisation, ethics committee approval reference number, data storage.
7. Step 7: State limitations honestly
   Every design has trade-offs. Naming them shows maturity.

Common mistakes to avoid

• No philosophical justification
• Missing ethics section
• Overclaimed generalisability

FAQs