Research Methodology

A research methodology from Paper Masters typically discusses the kinds of sources you hope to consult and the methods you will be using to extract and process the information you will be gathering in as much detail as is possible at the data collection stage of a master's thesis or research project. As the project is underway you might find the need to revise your methodology. You must explain how you will be collecting the data you need in order to address your research question. If you are conducting questionnaires or interviews you should explain what sample you will be using (size, criteria, method) and also how you will approaching the people in your sample. You should also give an indication as to whether you will be testing hypotheses quantitatively or using qualitative methods, such as interviews or semi-structured questionnaires.

For the methodology, determine the design of the study...experimental, correlational, descriptive, action research. Tell who the subjects are and how they were selected (random sampling, sampling of convenience, etc.). Discuss any instruments used and how data was collected (i.e. survey, interviews, observation, etc.). Finally, discuss how the data was analyzed. Most studies will use inferential statistics (T-test, Analysis of Variance, Pearson Product Moment, Chi Square, etc.) to analyze data. You do not need to explain what these statistics mean, you just simply need to reveal which, if any, where used to analyze the data.

Remember to group research studies and other types of literature (reviews, theoretical articles, case studies, etc.) according to common denominators such as qualitative versus quanitative approaches, conclusions of authors, specific purpose or objective, chronology, etc. Summarize individual studies or articles with as much detail as each merits according to its comparative importance in the literature, remembering that space (length)denotes significance. Provide the reader with strong "umbrella" sentences at beginnings of paragrapsh, "Signposts" througout, and brief "so what" summary sentences at intermediate points in the review to aid in understanding comparisons and analyses.