The methods section of a dissertation is indeed the most important chapter.

But why is it so?

It is because the methods section or methodology is the foundation of your dissertation. Every other chapter of your research dissertation depends on this single chapter. How you perform in this chapter tells if it is a hit or a miss.

It can either get you good grades or make your dissertation below average. So you shall pay extra attention to this chapter and plan it efficiently. UK Academic Help has made it easy for you to plan your methodology efficiently. This article will help you write your methodology in a very simple and easy way.

What Is A Methods Section Of A Dissertation?

A methods section is basically the methodology chapter of the dissertation. All the methods used in conducting a particular research are mentioned and explained in that chapter. Not only methods but the materials used in the research are also mentioned in this chapter.

It is to the point chapter, where there is no unnecessary stuffing of information. The whole chapter is dedicated to explaining all the methods and how they were used in a particular research. 

It is generally written before any other chapter because it holds the most importance and all the other chapters depend on it. Moreover, only the relevant and practically used methods are added in it. So when you are writing the methodology of your dissertation then make sure to state only relevant methods that you actually use.

How To Write Methods Section Of Dissertation?

To make your academic life easy, our experts have created a simple 4 steps guide that will help you write your methods section without any inconvenience. The simple and easy steps for your dissertation methodology are mentioned below;

  1. Introduce Your Approach

When you are writing any academic task you must set the stage for the details by introducing the main thoughts to the audience. Using the same technique and introduce your approach to the reader in the beginning of the chapter. 

You can either choose the “what?” approach or the “why?” approach. 

That means you can either start your methodology by explaining what research questions you researched? What type of data did you collect? What aims and objectives did you want to achieve?

Or,

You can start your methodology by explaining why you chose those methods? Why do you think it is the best choice? Why do your methods require justification? Why does the method fit with your objectives?

  • Explain Data Collection Methods

Explain your data collection methods in detail so that the reader knows how you performed the research and what type of data was involved in your research. Also explain why a particular type of data was used and what is its need in your research.

If your data collection method involved a questionnaire or any other form then explain how you designed it and what were the factors you kept in mind while doing it.

To learn more about the types of data, read primary vs secondary data.

  • Explain Analysis Methods 

After the data collection methods you shall explain about your analysis methods. You shall write about how you processed and analyse the data.

Do not discuss results, just mention the analysis methods you chose for your research. Like data collection methods there are different types of analysis methods as well. You need to mention which type of method you chose and how you used it to analyse your data.

You can get help from secondary research dissertation methods to learn more about the analysis methods. 

  • Evaluate And Justify Your Choice

Finalise your methodology by explaining how you evaluated the data and justify why you chose a particular approach. Explain why you chose that specific method and why other methods were not suitable for your research.

You shall be clear in your writing and use a convincing tone to show that you are capable of doing much greater things if given the opportunity.

Tips For Writing A Well Structured Methodology Chapter 

Methodology chapter is not just about stating the methods, it’s about representing your implications of the chosen methods in your research. If you want to impress your teachers with your methodology, then here are some tips for you that will help you write a well structured methodology flawlessly.

  • Do Not Lose Your Focus

Focus is very important. Don’t lose your focus and keep your research questions, aims, and objectives in mind. Your methods should be clear and show why they are chosen to achieve your objectives. Everything should sink so make sure to represent the connection clearly, and that is only possible if you stay focused. 

  • Follow Your Outline

Create an outline before writing and follow it to stay on track. Your methodology shall not look like its all over the place. It shall be well composed so if you follow an outline it will be very convenient for you to showcase your work professionally.

  • No Irrelevant Stuff 

Remember that adding irrelevant stuff will not get you good grades. Rather it will show your lack of knowledge and skills and bring you bad results. So writing unnecessary information in your methods to fulfil word count will go against you and create a bad image of you in front of the reader. 

  • Cite References

To add more value to your methods you can cite the methods with authentic references. This will enhance your methodology and show your hard work and skills. Moreover, it will also show that you actually worked on your methodology and not just randomly added any method in your dissertation. 

  • Know Your Audience 

It is very important to know what your targeted audience is. If you know about their understanding level then you can create your methodology chapter accordingly to be more readable. You shall know how much information you need to explain. It will save you from writing unnecessary information.

Follow these tips and create a methodology that is clear, well structured, and relevant. Don’t just write methods, but also explain how they were used in your research to achieve a specific goal.

Example Of Methods Section Of Dissertation 

An example of the methods section to give you an idea of what this section looks like is mentioned below;

  • The quantitative data was gathered and checked for any outliers. The outlier labelling rule was used to check the data. The values that were not in the calculated range were considered as outliers ( abc & xyz, 19**). The data was analysed using statistical software SPSS. Descriptive statistics was used to summarise the data and two way ANOVA was also applied to test the hypothesis. 

Note that this is just an example used to give you a visual perspective of how you shall create your methodology section. Get inspiration and create your own original writing. If you want your methods section to look professional then contact us and we will help you write a perfect methods section.