How to choose a methodology
A decision path from research question to methodology, plus how to write the justification examiners are looking for.
9 min read
Research Methodology Guides for Dissertations
Your methodology is the justified chain from research philosophy to approach, strategy, sampling, data collection and analysis. Markers reward justification, not complexity: every choice needs a reason tied to your research question.
Methodology chapters lose marks when they describe methods in the abstract instead of explaining why this design answers this question.
Work through these guides in order if you are still deciding, or jump to the method you have chosen.
Guides in research methodology
Research philosophy explained: ontology, epistemology and axiology
A clear introduction to research philosophy for dissertations: ontology, epistemology and axiology, and how they shape your methodology choices.
10 min read
Interpretivism vs positivism: which fits your dissertation?
The practical differences between interpretivism and positivism, and how to decide which underpins your dissertation's methodology.
8 min read
The research onion explained
The research onion as a decision-making tool rather than a diagram to copy: what each layer asks and how the layers constrain each other.
8 min read
Qualitative vs quantitative research
The real difference between qualitative and quantitative dissertation research, and how to choose based on your question rather than your comfort zone.
8 min read
Sampling explained
Probability and non-probability sampling explained simply, with guidance on sample size and how to justify your choice.
7 min read
Semi-structured interviews: a practical guide
How to design, run and analyse semi-structured interviews for a dissertation, with example questions, probes and pitfalls to avoid.
9 min read
How to design a dissertation questionnaire
A step-by-step guide to designing a valid, reliable dissertation questionnaire, with example question wording and common scale types.
9 min read
Case study research: what it is and how to design one
How to design a rigorous case study dissertation, including case selection, boundary-setting, data sources and analysis.
8 min read
Mixed methods research: designing a dissertation that combines qualitative and quantitative data
How to design a coherent mixed methods dissertation, including sequential and convergent designs, integration and common pitfalls.
9 min read
Reliability and validity in dissertation research
What reliability and validity mean for quantitative work, and their qualitative equivalents — credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability.
9 min read
How to get ethical approval
What ethics committees actually look for, the documents you need, and the mistakes that cause applications to be returned.
8 min read
How to write a methodology chapter
A clear structure for the methodology chapter: philosophy, design, sample, data collection, analysis and ethics, each justified against your question.
10 min read
Work through this with a supervisor
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Start my dissertationRelated research: design the methodology
Choose philosophy, approach, sampling and ethics you can defend in the viva.
How to choose a methodology
A decision path from research question to methodology, plus how to write the justification examiners are looking for.
Research philosophy explained: ontology, epistemology and axiology
A clear introduction to research philosophy for dissertations: ontology, epistemology and axiology, and how they shape your methodology choices.
Qualitative vs quantitative research
The real difference between qualitative and quantitative dissertation research, and how to choose based on your question rather than your comfort zone.
How to get ethical approval
What ethics committees actually look for, the documents you need, and the mistakes that cause applications to be returned.
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