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

How the research was conducted and how the
data were obtained
In addition, the Methodology section should explain how the research was
conducted and how the data were obtained: how the particular method(s)
were used. This section will require a detailed description of the research
processes and procedures as well as an explanation of the reasons for doing so.
Writers should consider the extent to which the method(s) chosen have
shaped their data. For example, in qualitative research, writers will need to
describe:
●
how they obtained their informants or drew their sample;
●
the location/setting of interviews;
●
the themes covered in the interview;
●
piloting, adjustments made, reasons for this;
●
how they overcame obstacles they encountered.
Knowing how the data were collected helps the reader evaluate the validity
and reliability of the results as well as the conclusions that are drawn from
them. Replicability of the study is also an important consideration and is
another reason for the detailed description of methods and procedures. In Box
8.7 on p.124, the writer clearly sets out the four sources of his data and then
goes on to describe each in turn while highlighting the strengths and limita-
tions of each of the sources.
Applications
1
Discuss with your student the overall role and function of the
Methodology section. Provide them with the visual ‘map’ in Figure
8.1. Suggest they use the map structure to generate a mind map of
their own Methodology section and its key components.
2
Ask your students to examine Methodology sections from a couple
of recent theses in their field in terms of the following questions:
●
Was there a justification of the choice of methodology, theoret-
ical framework or research design?
●
Which elements of the ‘visual map’ were included?
●
How were these elements ordered and was a justification
offered for their choice?
●
How ‘reader-friendly’ was the section?
●
Did the writers discuss limitations to the research or problems
they encountered during the research?

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Writing the Methodology chapter
123
In a recent study of master’s project reports in computer science, Harwood
(2005) found that students included discussion not only of procedures used
but also of procedures that could have been followed but were not, and of pro-
cedures that were attempted but failed. This feature of the thesis has also been
noted by Swales and Feak (2000) and again distinguishes the thesis from the
published journal article where the researcher may not mention the ‘blind
alleys and false starts ... integral to the research process’ (Harwood 2005:
254). In the PhD thesis, in particular, the writer may be seeking to alert other
researchers to potential pitfalls as well as to defend him- or herself from pos-
sible criticism that they had not considered all available options.
In Box 8.8 on pp. 125–126, from the section titled ‘Materials and Methods’
of a thesis in marine biology, the writer provides us with an extremely detailed
Methodology
Paradigm
Assumptions
Theoretical 
framework
Approach
Justification
Ethical issues
Research questions/
hypotheses
Limitations