Regardless of the degree course to which you belong, you will have gained knowledge and experience of a variety of research methods. The methodology chapter is a key component of any academic project and it is here that you demonstrate to the reader that you have chosen the most appropriate research method for your stated aim and objectives.
Research methods fall into two very broad categories: quantitative and qualitative. You must, through understanding the advantages and disadvantages of methods within these approaches, and through an appreciation of what you really want to find out, select and justify the appropriate research method or methods.
Collecting Data
While all students and projects will progress at variable rates, a general trend is that data collection takes place in the second semester.
Once your supervisor confirms that your proposed research method is appropriate, practical and ethical, you would start to carefully plan your data collection process.
Oftentimes students will rely on external constituencies for their data, and this can throw up a myriad of problems – people not turning up as arranged for focus groups, low return rates for questionnaires, discovering that a person you have arranged to interview is ineligible for inclusion in your sample etc.
As a consequence, it is highly recommended that you build in some extra time for this stage to allow for unforeseen difficulties and delays.
Analysing and interpreting data
Analysing data means more than just summarising your results and presenting them. You also need to interpret the results. You must think about the data in relation to the literature you have reviewed, the theoretical framework you are applying and, of course, your research aim and objectives.
Amongst the many questions you should ask yourself having completed this section of your project is: have I explicitly addressed my aim and objectives?