A Guide to Writing Dissertation Methodology Section
What is the methodology section of the dissertation paper?
The methodology, or method, section of your dissertation states what steps you will take to answer your thesis question or prove your thesis statement. The methodology section of your dissertation paper comes after the introduction section of your dissertation.
The methodology section or method section of your dissertation paper contains the following sections:
- Subjects or participants of the dissertation
- Instrumentation or measures
- Procedures
Sometimes the methodology section may contain a data analysis or statistical analysis section that outlines the procedures for reaching the data obtained while researching the topic for the dissertation. The methodology section may have an apparatus section to describe any special equipment that may have been used to do research for the dissertation paper.
What are common mistakes made by students when writing the methodology section of the dissertation section?
Many times students may make some common mistakes when writing the methodology section of their dissertation research paper.
Here is a list of the common mistakes made when writing the methodology section of the dissertation paper:
- In the first draft of the Methodology Section many students make the mistake of re-writing what was stated in the Problem Statement Section or the Literature Review Section.
- Failure to clearly spell out the methods used to do research for your dissertation.
- Methods are not like results, so do not give summaries like tables and figures of results in this section.
- The methodology section should clearly demonstrate your understanding of the topic chosen for your dissertation.
- Failure to write the section clearly, concisely, and straight to the point can also be detrimental.
How to properly write the methodology section of your dissertation paper?
Here are a few pointers in writing an effective methodology section for your dissertation paper:
- Clearly identify the statistical techniques you will use to get the results you would like to have for the objectives and scope of your research.
- You must be able to show that you understand all the assumptions regarding the methods used and justification for using such methods to conduct your research for the dissertation.
- Do not use any results in the methods section.
- Ensure that you clearly define your methods used to do the research for the dissertation in a way that the advisory committee will be able to understand the scope of the dissertation.
- Have a good introductory paragraph to your methodology section.
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