Thank you very much :)

Hi,

If you are not conducting empirical research, a methodology section may not be necessary. For example, papers in the humanities (e.g. literary studies) rarely include a methodology section, because they focus on argumentation and analysis of sources rather than data collection.

But yes, it’s always important to review relevant literature, and it’s a good idea to include a theoretical framework that explains the assumptions and theories that support your approach to the topic.

I hope that helps!

Hi Ines,

The term research design generally refers to the overarching strategy or plan that you create for your research in advance (including the research questions, hypotheses, etc). It’s also sometimes used to refer to the type of study being conducted (e.g. a longitudinal survey design or an experimental design). Research methods or methodology usually refers to the specific steps, tools, and procedures used to collect and analyze data. In a thesis, aspects of the research design will often be explained in both the introduction and the methodology chapter.

However, be aware that there’s a lot of overlap between these terms, and the conventions for presenting them in your thesis really depends on the field. There’s no universal template for a qualitative methodology chapter; you can try reading papers and past theses in your field to see how others have approached it, and it’s a good idea to discuss these questions with your supervisor. But in any thesis, regardless of which terms you use, the most important thing is to clearly and accurately explain exactly how you conducted the research, and why.

I hope that’s helpful!

Eventually I struggle with how to outline my methodology section. What would you recommend for a perfect outline of the methodology section for a qualitative, descriptive study? I do interviews as method and read academic papers too.

I hope to hear from you, thanks a lot in advance.
Ines from Bilbao, Spain