PhD level research works demand precision, transparency and attention to detail. An important segment of such documentation is the research methodology which elaborates on how the intended research will be approached, how (and what) data will be collected, how will the data be analysed and what factors will guide the overall research planning/execution. The questions postulated must be answered, but equally important is showcasing how they will be answered and why.
However, most first-timers to research writing miss out on this crucial essence of researching and fail to deliver their research as a full-proof academic worth.
Most scholars, even at later stages of their PhD research, are of the view that Research methodology and research methods are synonyms. To their surprise, methodology is an umbrella term which constitutes not just research methods, but a whole list of other necessary ingredients.
In a survey conducted among popular research methodology writing service providers (online), it was indicated that about 29% of the documents they receive for writing the RM chapter do not even mention any of the below mentioned constituents:
- Research Philosophy
A research philosophy, reflecting assumptions that serve as a base for the research strategy must be explained in terms of ontology and epistemology. A research philosophy can be pragmatism, realism, positivism, or interpretivism and the choice of the research philosophy will be impacted by practical implications.
- Research Approach
Selecting between inductive and deductive methods will be indicated by the decisions made at the previous level. While choosing a research method the researcher must check if the selected approach suits the research context.
- Research Strategy
Depending on the aims and objectives of research, the researcher must finalise a research strategy to seek answers. It relates to analytical concepts and techniques, theory building, and operational procedures.
- Time horizons
It isn’t sufficient if you have used cross-sectional/longitudinal time horizon to obtain answer for your question. You must also highlight the time horizon you have used to find the answer for your research question or address a specific problem.
- Research Methods
Merely describing the method chosen by you for conducting the current research is not sufficient. In addition, you need to provide a justification for choosing the same. A good research methodology chapter also justifies why some other alternative to the chosen research method was not used.
To conclude, if you aren’t confident in including the research methodology chapter in your research paper, consider taking help from writers offering research methodology writing services.