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What is the Methodology in a Research Paper? | Types & Example
Published by Ellie Cross at November 1st, 2024 , Revised On November 5, 2024
A research paper is usually written when all the required data and information has been collected. After writing the introduction, you want to elaborate on your research type, how you conducted research, and different data collection methods. Research methodology in a research paper is a section that encompasses all these things.
Research methodology significantly helps to clarify and legitimise the research process and collected data. No matter which subject you write your research paper on, adding a research methodology section allows researchers to show that the research was meticulously done and can be replicated efficiently. In other words, methodology in a research paper includes principles, theories, and values that support your research.
This blog comprehensively discusses what a methodology is in a research paper, different types of methodology in research, the importance of methodology in a research paper, and the essential steps to write the methodology section.
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
Methodology in a research paper refers to the practical explanation of the research study. It focuses on all the tips and techniques researchers used 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.
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. It significantly helps people find treatments, cures, and solutions to different medical, societal, psychological and sociological problems. Here are the three different types of methodology in a research paper:
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
Whether it’s quantitative or qualitative research, elaborating the data collection and analysing methods using the research methodology significantly helps in writing a high-quality research paper. It provides researchers with particular guidelines and frameworks to define objectives, hypotheses, and research questions efficiently.
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 waterfall methodology must be completed to begin the next. It doesn’t allow flexibility.
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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. The methodology is an important step in the research paper that helps researchers understand the various tips and techniques used by previous researchers in the undertaking of research.
By deeply understanding these essential steps, you can effortlessly write the methodology section of a research paper and streamline your research process efficiently.
Step 1: Re-analyse the Research Problem
If you’re 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 Analysation 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.
Example of Methodology in 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.
After team decided to choose mixed-method research because we wanted to get both objective and subjective data to calculate productivity and different challenges faced by employees. The unique data collection methods that we chose are visual ethnographics 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 on 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the methodology of a research paper.
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.
How long should a methodology be in a research paper?
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.
What are the different types of methodology in a research paper?
These are the different types of methodology in a research paper:
- Quantitative
- Qualitative
- Mined-method
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Research Methodology Example
I f you’re working on a dissertation or thesis and are looking for an example of a research methodology chapter , you’ve come to the right place.
In this video, we walk you through a research methodology from a dissertation that earned full distinction , step by step. We start off by discussing the core components of a research methodology by unpacking our free methodology chapter template . We then progress to the sample research methodology to show how these concepts are applied in an actual dissertation, thesis or research project.
If you’re currently working on your research methodology chapter, you may also find the following resources useful:
- Research methodology 101 : an introductory video discussing what a methodology is and the role it plays within a dissertation
- Research design 101 : an overview of the most common research designs for both qualitative and quantitative studies
- Variables 101 : an introductory video covering the different types of variables that exist within research.
- Sampling 101 : an overview of the main sampling methods
- Methodology tips : a video discussion covering various tips to help you write a high-quality methodology chapter
- Private coaching : Get hands-on help with your research methodology
PS – If you’re working on a dissertation, be sure to also check out our collection of dissertation and thesis examples here .
FAQ: Research Methodology Example
Research methodology example: frequently asked questions, is the sample research methodology real.
Yes. The chapter example is an extract from a Master’s-level dissertation for an MBA program. A few minor edits have been made to protect the privacy of the sponsoring organisation, but these have no material impact on the research methodology.
Can I replicate this methodology for my dissertation?
As we discuss in the video, every research methodology will be different, depending on the research aims, objectives and research questions. Therefore, you’ll need to tailor your literature review to suit your specific context.
You can learn more about the basics of writing a research methodology chapter here .
Where can I find more examples of research methodologies?
The best place to find more examples of methodology chapters would be within dissertation/thesis databases. These databases include dissertations, theses and research projects that have successfully passed the assessment criteria for the respective university, meaning that you have at least some sort of quality assurance.
The Open Access Thesis Database (OATD) is a good starting point.
How do I get the research methodology chapter template?
You can access our free methodology chapter template here .
Is the methodology template really free?
Yes. There is no cost for the template and you are free to use it as you wish.
Learn More About Methodology
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Hiring the right tutor for your dissertation or thesis can make the difference between passing and failing. Here’s what you need to consider.
5 Signs You Need A Dissertation Helper
Discover the 5 signs that suggest you need a dissertation helper to get unstuck, finish your degree and get your life back.
Triangulation: The Ultimate Credibility Enhancer
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Research Limitations 101: What You Need To Know
Learn everything you need to know about research limitations (AKA limitations of the study). Includes practical examples from real studies.
In Vivo Coding 101: Full Explainer With Examples
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