Your research project will be considered complete only when it includes the details regarding the procedures that are followed for conducting the research. Such details are given in the methodology chapter.
The elements that are included in the research methodology chapter are as follows:
• Data collection
Data is the building block of any research study. The manner in which you collect your data has to be clarified here. You may use various methods like questionnaires, online polls, survey, interviews, etc. You must justify the chosen method by comparing it with other methods, and stating its cost and time advantage.
• Subject group
Whether you are doing a case study, an experiment or ethnographic study, there will be a subject group that will be involved. In the methods chapter, provide the details about selection of such group, as well as its constitution. The group must be representative of the entire population. You can choose such subjects through sampling or any other method.
• Procedural details
There will be some procedures that are used to conduct the study. Whether you have developed the same or relying on some proven procedures, you have to mention whether they are effective and reliable.
• Instrumentation used
In most research studies, certain instrumentation is used. It can be for the purpose of collecting information, conducting experiments, etc. Some questions that you must answer are: How you have chosen these instruments, what are the assumptions that they use, is there any validity issue regarding these instruments, have they been used by prior researchers for similar studies, etc.
• Analytical methods
Lastly, the methods used for analysis of data also have to be presented in detail. Whether you have taken up a qualitative study or quantitative one, there will be some analysis required. You must mention and justify the tests and tools that you have chosen for such analysis.
All these details, when presented in a well structured manner, constitute the research design; i.e. the plan that you have followed for completing the study.