Choosing your methodology.

The methodology chapter is where examiners test whether you understand your own research. A strong one does not just describe what you did; it justifies why that design was the right way to answer your question.

Start from the question, not the method

Exploratory questions about meaning and experience lean qualitative. Questions about how much, how many or whether X affects Y lean quantitative. Questions that need both often call for a mixed-methods design.

The building blocks to justify

• Philosophy and approach: why this stance fits your question
• Design: survey, case study, experiment, ethnography or mixed
• Sampling: who, how many and why they represent your population
• Data collection and analysis: the tools and how you apply them
• Ethics: consent, confidentiality and integrity

Rigour is the whole point

Whatever you choose, show validity, reliability or trustworthiness, and be honest about limitations. Examiners reward a well-defended imperfect design over an oversold perfect-sounding one.

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