The methodology chapter is where you explain the research you did and why you did it that way. Here's a concrete template structure with worked example text for each section. Adapt it to your discipline and study.

Chapter Introduction

One paragraph. State what this chapter does.

Example: "Here, the research methodology employed in this study. It describes the research philosophy supporting the work, the overall research approach, the research design, sampling strategy, and data collection and analysis procedures. Finally, it addresses the measures taken to ensure rigour and ethical integrity throughout the research process."

Research Philosophy

150 to 200 words. Every dissertation has an underlying philosophy. Make yours explicit. Are you a positivist (reality exists objectively and can be measured)? A realist (reality exists but is filtered through interpretation)? A relativist (reality is socially constructed)? This matters because it shapes every choice you make.

Example: "This study is situated within a critical realist model. Critical realism acknowledges that social reality exists independently of our understanding of it, yet is mediated through human interpretation and social structures (Sayer, 1992). This philosophical position suits a study of workplace change, which involves both observable events (organisational restructuring, role changes) and subjective experiences (how people interpret and respond to change). Unlike positivism, critical realism recognises that understanding requires engagement with meanings and values. Unlike relativism, it recognises that some interpretations are better grounded in evidence than others. The methodology reflects this by combining quantitative data on workplace outcomes with qualitative data on how employees experienced the change process."

Research Approach

100 to 150 words. Deductive, inductive, or abductive? Deductive means you start with theory and test it (hypotheses come first). Inductive means you start with data and generate theory (you explore first, then develop explanations). Abductive means you cycle between theory and data (you start with data, notice something interesting, develop an explanation, gather more data to test it).

Example: "This study employs an abductive research approach. Initial exploratory interviews with staff identified unexpected resistance to a policy change that management had assumed would be straightforward. This observation prompted review of organisational change literature, which highlighted the importance of psychological contract theory in understanding employee responses. Subsequent survey items were designed to test whether psychological contract breach explained observed resistance better than traditional change management variables. The final analysis cycled back to qualitative data to explore mechanisms through which contract breach led to behavioural outcomes."

Research Design

150 to 200 words. What was your overall research design? Case study? Experimental? Phenomenological? Cross-sectional survey? Longitudinal?

Example: "This is a mixed methods case study of organisational change in the NHS. A case study approach is appropriate because the research question concerns how change unfolds in a specific organisational context. The study is structured as a single embedded case study where the organisation is the case and three departments are embedded cases. Data collection occurred in two phases over twelve months. Phase one (months 1 to 4) involved 15 semi-structured interviews with managers and staff in each department, plus observation of three change management meetings. Phase two (months 6 to 12) involved a survey of 200 staff across the three departments and follow-up interviews with 12 interview participants from phase one. This sequential design allowed findings from interviews to inform survey instrument development and allowed initial survey results to prompt deeper exploration in follow-up interviews."

Sampling Strategy

150 to 200 words. How did you choose your participants? Probability sampling (random selection, stratified random)? Non-probability sampling (convenience, purposive)? What was your sample size? Why? How did you recruit?

Key Considerations and Best Practices

Example: "Phase one interviews employed purposive sampling to achieve maximum variation in role and organisational position. The sampling frame included clinical staff (nurses, doctors), operational staff (managers, administrators), and support staff. Within each role, attempts were made to include people with varying experience levels (new to the organisation, and more than five years tenure). Interviews continued until data saturation was reached (15 interviews per department, 45 total). Phase two survey employed stratified random sampling. The sampling frame comprised all staff in the three departments (approximately 500 people). Stratification was by department and employment grade. An online survey was sent to 200 randomly selected staff, stratified to match the departmental and grade distribution of the total population. This ensured that results could be generalised to the population of staff in these departments."

Academic writing at degree level demands a level of critical engagement with sources that goes beyond simply reporting what other researchers have found in their studies. You need to evaluate the quality and relevance of each source you use, considering factors such as the methodological rigour of the study, the date of publication, and the credibility of the journal or publisher involved. When you compare and contrast the findings of different researchers, you demonstrate to your marker that you have a genuine understanding of the debates and controversies within your field of study. Building a habit of critical reading from the early stages of your research will save you considerable time during the writing phase, as you will already have formed considered views on the key texts in your area.

Data Collection

200 to 250 words. What instruments did you use? Interviews, questionnaires, observation, documents? What were the procedures? How long did data collection take? Any challenges?

Example: "Phase one data collection involved semi-structured interviews and non-participant observation. Interviews lasted 45 to 60 minutes, were conducted in private spaces within the organisation, and were recorded and transcribed in full. An interview schedule with open-ended questions about how the change was experienced was prepared but adapted given emerging themes (Appendix A). The schedule covered the respondent's understanding of the change, their initial reaction, any barriers or facilitators, and their current experience. Non-participant observation involved attending three organisational change implementation meetings. Field notes were recorded immediately after each meeting. Phase two involved an online survey administered via Qualtrics. The survey contained 45 Likert scale items measuring psychological contract expectations, perceived contract breach, organisational commitment, and behavioural responses to change, plus open-ended items asking for further comments. The survey was open for four weeks and reminders were sent weekly. Follow-up interviews (30 to 40 minutes) with 12 phase one participants explored specific survey findings and clarified apparently contradictory responses. These interviews were also recorded and transcribed in full."

Data Analysis Plan

150 to 200 words. How did you analyse the data? For qualitative data, what was your coding approach? For quantitative data, what statistical tests? What software did you use?

Example: "Qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke's six-phase approach. All interview transcripts and observation notes were initially coded independently by the researcher and a research assistant to check reliability. Codes were refined and organised into candidate themes. Themes were reviewed against the data set and named. Particular attention was paid to disconfirming evidence (cases that didn't fit emerging themes). NVivo12 was used to manage coding and theme development. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS26. Descriptive statistics (means, standard deviations, frequency distributions) were initially reported. Likert scale items were combined into composite scales (psychological contract expectations, breach perceptions, organisational commitment). Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha. Relationships between variables were examined using Pearson correlations and independent samples t-tests. A regression model tested whether psychological contract breach predicted organisational commitment and behavioural outcomes, controlling for demographic variables."

Rigour and Quality

150 to 200 words. How did you ensure your research was credible and trustworthy? For quantitative work: reliability and validity. For qualitative work: credibility, dependability, confirmability, transferability.

Example: "Several strategies were employed to enhance research quality. For qualitative data, credibility was strengthened through persistent observation (12 months in the field), triangulation (comparing interview findings with observational data and survey results), and member checking (a summary of findings was shared with 6 interview participants to verify interpretation). Dependability was addressed through maintaining a detailed audit trail (decision logs, reflexive notes, and coding decisions documented). Confirmability was enhanced through independent coding by two researchers. For quantitative data, internal consistency of composite scales was assessed using Cronbach's alpha (all scales exceeded 0.75). Test-retest reliability was examined for a subsample of survey respondents surveyed twice. Validity concerns were addressed by developing survey items through review of the literature and piloting with 20 respondents. The response rate was 45%, which, while moderate, wasn't different from comparable surveys."

Ethical Considerations

150 to 200 words. What ethical approval did you obtain? How did you handle informed consent? Confidentiality? Data protection? Potential risks to participants?

Expert Guidance for Academic Success

Example: "Ethical approval was obtained from the University Research Ethics Committee (approval number RI/2022/345) and NHS Research Ethics Committee (approval 22/LO/0234) before recruitment began. Informed consent was obtained from all participants. Interviews were conducted only after participants read an information sheet and signed a consent form. Participants were explicitly told they could refuse to participate or withdraw at any point without explanation. Survey completion was treated as consent (participants read information on the survey's first screen before proceeding). Data protection complied with GDPR. No directly identifiable information was recorded. Interview recordings were stored on an encrypted password-protected drive and deleted six months after transcription. Participants were assigned participant numbers and transcripts anonymised. Organisational identifiers (department names, distinctive role titles) were removed from direct quotations used in reporting. Potential risks were minimal. Interviews explored experiences of change, which could potentially be emotionally difficult. A participant information sheet included information about employee assistance programmes. The researcher was trained in psychological first aid protocols and would have referred participants to support services if needed, though this wasn't necessary."

Chapter Summary

One paragraph. Restate the key methodological choices and how they address the research question.

Example: "This chapter has outlined a mixed methods case study design combining semi-structured interviews, non-participant observation, and online survey data. The approach allows exploration of how organisational change is experienced by different interested party groups, while also testing specific theoretical explanations for observed patterns. Sampling and data collection strategies were built to ensure credible, dependable findings transferable to similar organisational contexts. Ethical procedures protected participant confidentiality and complied with relevant regulatory frameworks."

Word Count Allocation Guidance

For a 10,000-word dissertation, allocate methodology as follows:

Introduction: 100 words (1%) Research philosophy: 200 words (2%) Research approach: 150 words (1.5%) Research design: 200 words (2%) Sampling strategy: 200 words (2%) Data collection: 250 words (2.5%) Data analysis: 200 words (2%) Rigour and quality: 200 words (2%) Ethical considerations: 200 words (2%) Summary: 100 words (1%)

Total: approximately 1,600 words (16% of dissertation)

For longer dissertations (15,000 words), expand each section by 50%. For shorter dissertations (5,000 words), reduce by 30%.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need to explain basic concepts like what an interview is? A: No. Assume your reader understands standard research methods. Explain why you chose that method, not what it's. "Semi-structured interviews were selected because they allow flexibility to explore emerging themes while maintaining consistency across respondents." Not "Semi-structured interviews are a qualitative research method where the researcher asks questions."

Practical Steps You Should Follow

Q: How detailed should my sampling description be? A: Detailed enough that someone could replicate your study. State the sampling frame (who was eligible), the sampling method (how you selected from the frame), the sample size, response/participation rate, and any relevant characteristics of your sample (age range, gender distribution, experience level).

Q: Should I describe pilot testing? A: Yes, if you did it. Even a brief mention strengthens credibility. "The survey was piloted with 15 staff members from a different NHS trust. Two items were ambiguously worded and were revised based on feedback. The revised survey was then used for main data collection."