Thesis and Dissertation Writing in a Second Language: a handbook for Supervisors

Methods
Statistical
treatment
Sampling 
technique
Data 
collection
Calculations/
variables
Materials
Population 
sample
Procedures
• Field equipment
• Surveys, questionnaires
• Human/animal subjects
• Lab equipment
Figure 8.1 Visual map of typical components of a Methodology chapter

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124
Writing the Methodology chapter
description of the research setting and of the methods and materials used in
the fish tagging programme. The information provided would enable the
study to be replicated or adapted in a different context, in other words to be of
use to others in the field (Swales 2004).
How the data were processed
It is also essential to describe how the information obtained in the research
process was analysed, prior to moving into a discussion of the results or find-
ings. This section may vary in length depending on the amount of explanation
that is needed in the specific field of study. The degree of explanation needed
reflects the degree to which there is agreement or shared understanding in the
field; the greater length of methods sections in the social as compared to the
hard sciences suggests less unanimity as to methodological practice (Brett
1994). For example, statistical treatments such as ‘Pareto curves’ or ‘multivari-
ate analysis’ may not need to be explained in detail as they form part of the
shared and accepted procedures of a particular field (see Box 8.9 on p. 127 for
an example of this). The language used is often impersonal, with verbs in the
Box 8.7 Description and evaluation of data sources
Data
Explanation of  The research for this study was derived from four 
sources of 
major sources: (1) archival collections of participants, 
research data
civil rights organizations, and government agencies, 
(2) informant interviews, (3) newspapers, and (4) 
reports and documentation of various organizations 
Reference to
and agencies such as the United States Commission on 
strengths and
Civil Rights. Let me describe each in turn, highlight-
weakness of
ing the limitations and strengths of each.
different
Archival Collections
methods.
By far, the most valuable source of data for this study 
was the archival collections that document mobilization
Writer begins
at the local level. The major collections consulted 
evaluation of
for this study are listed in Appendix B. Nevertheless, 
source.
one limitation of the archival collections is the almost 
exclusive documentation of major civil rights 
organizations (e.g. CORE and SNCC) and the early 
1960s: this limitation is reflected in the historical 
scholarship.
Source: Andrews 1997: 88–89

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Box 8.8 Extract from Materials and Methods section of a PhD thesis in marine
biology
2.2 Materials and Methods