The document discusses writing the research design section of a thesis. It explains that the research design justifies the structure and reasoning behind the investigations, not just describing what was done. It discusses the differences between the methodology and methods sections. The methodology explains the reasoning and thinking behind the choice of methods, while methods details the procedures. Both sections require justifying decisions through the literature. The document provides guidance on how to explain and defend the chosen research approach over alternatives in the methodology section. It emphasizes showing how the chosen method will best address the research problem. The methods section should provide enough detail to allow others to replicate the work.

1. Writing
up the
Research
Design of
Your
Thesis

2. Research Design
Is about the structure and reasoning behind
the investigations you did.
Not just what you did – but how you arrived at
this set of investigations: the journey from
initial problem to data collection.
Two useful, but different terms for this part of
your thesis are METHODS and
METHODOLOGY.

3. Methodology Methods
Explains the reasoning and
thinking behind your choice
of methods.
Why have you chosen this
approach?
What did the literature say
about solving such problems
and how did it influence you?
Methods is part of your
methodology.
It details what you did,
your procedures, but like
Methodology, your many
choices must also be
justified.

4. Methodology
Justify your decisions:
Explain the thinking and decision-making
process that went behind your choice of an
experimental method
Defend your decisions:
Anticipate likely criticisms of your choices and
address them either in the literature review or in
your methods.

5. Aim
Not everything you write about your research design will
go in the methods chapter.
No part of your thesis is stand-alone, (except, perhaps the
abstract). Rather, there are discrete chapters or parts, but
they fit together to form a whole picture.
By the time your reader has finished your literature review,
they should have a fair idea of the methods you are likely to
use, and they should be able to predict what your research
questions will be with some accuracy.
In other words, you will have reviewed literature that
employed methods which could also apply to your
research problem.

6. What kinds of methods can be applied to my
problem?
How well do these methods fit?
Write up the information that enabled you to make a
decision for your thesis
NB: Not a list of advantages and disadvantages of all
possible methods – focus on the one you have
chosen.
Methodology – early questions to answer

7. Methodologies
1 & 3
(examined and rejected)
Briefly summarise your reasons
for rejecting these approaches,
using the literature where
appropriate.
Give a detailed explanation of
how and why this approach will
best address your research
problem.
Methodology 2
Methodology


8. Methodology
“By the time you start to describe be your results (in the “Results”
chapter(s), you will be so immersed in them that you may have quite
forgotten the struggle you went through to select an appropriate method for
your investigations, or why you designed your research instruments as you
did.”
Evans, D., & Gruba, P. (2002) How to Write a Better Thesis. MUP. Carlton pp. 84-5
Tip: Note taking and reading
- take notes on more than just information as you read
- write your thoughts, questions and concerns about the approach;
what is suitable about it for your research problem and where it may
fall short.

9. Methodology
Through what theoretical
lens(es) are you viewing your
research problem?
What is the impact of this /
these on how you investigate
the problem?
What are your hypotheses?
Look at published theses in your discipline; find how and where they
have justified the choices they made in the design of their research.

10. ?
Method
s
‘So is it just a list of procedures, like a
recipe?
Well not really, although this will form
part of your methods.
You will also need to explain the
decisions behind your research
design
‘write your methods with enough
detail to allow another researcher to
replicate what you have done’

11. Explain your Research decisions:
How did you determine the size of your
sample?
Methods
Why are you using interviews and not surveys, or surveys and not
interviews?
How did you decide how many trials to do?
Cite appropriate literature.
Argue your case with reasons.

12. Standard
Techniques
Less well-known
techniques
Explain
why you
chose it
Summarise
(and/ or cite a good
description of the method)
Explain in
detail
Methods

13. Equipment and Procedures
Give details of:
- Any equipment, programmes or
software not widely used in your
discipline
- The specifications of any standard
equipment or programmes where
these may vary.
Methods

14. In summary:
Methodology explains the concepts behind your research
design.
Methods explain what you did in enough detail to enable your
reader to reproduce your results.
For both methodology and methods, you need to defend and
justify decisions you have made.
Methodology inevitably proceeds methods, but you should
organise your methods chapter(s) logically, in a way that most
clearly explains your research.