The Methodology:
How was your data obtained and analyzed?
- Readers need to know how the data was obtained because the method you chose affects the findings and, by extension, how you likely interpreted them.
- Unreliable method produces unreliable results and, as a consequence, undermines the value of your interpretations of the findings.
- There are a variety of different methods you can choose to investigate a research problem. Clearly articulate the reasons why you chose a particular procedure or technique.
- The data must be collected or generated in a way that is consistent with accepted practice in the field of study. For example, if you are using a multiple choice questionnaire, readers need to know that it offered your respondents a reasonable range of answers to choose from.
- Must fulfill the overall aims of the study. For example, you need to ensure that you have a large enough sample size to be able to generalize and make recommendations based upon the findings.
- Should discuss the problems that were anticipated and the steps you took to prevent them from occurring. You must also describe the ways in which potential problems were minimized or why these problems do not impact in any meaningful way your interpretation of the findings.
- Must provide sufficient information to allow other researchers to adopt or replicate your methodology.
Below is the outline of how I addressed my methodology section of my dissertation
CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY……………………………………………………………………… 38
Research Design………………………………………………………………………………………. 38
Qualitative Research…………………………………………………………………………………. 39
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis………………………………………… 40
Phenomenology………………………………………………………………….. 41
Hermeneutic………………………………………………………………………. 44
Ideography………………………………………………………………………… 44
Participants: Inclusion Criteria…………………………………………………………………… 45
Sample Size………………………………………………………………………………….. 46
Data Collection: Sampling………………………………………………………………. 47
Participant Recruitment………………………………………………………………….. 47
Oral Survey Screening…………………………………………………………. 49
Data Collection………………………………………………………………………………………… 50
Interviews…………………………………………………………………………………….. 50
Data Management……………………………………………………………………………………. 52
Data Analysis………………………………………………………………………………………….. 52
Step 1: Reading and Rereading……………………………………………………….. 53
Step 2: Initial Noting……………………………………………………………………… 53
Step 3: Developing Emergent Themes……………………………………………… 54
Step 4: Connections across Themes………………………………………………….. 54
Step 5: Moving to the Next Case…………………………………………………….. 55
Step 6: Looking for Patterns across Cases………………………………………… 55
Reflexive Bracketing………………………………………………………………………………… 55
Trustworthiness……………………………………………………………………………………….. 56
Ethical Issues…………………………………………………………………………………………… 58
Respect for Persons……………………………………………………………………….. 59
Self of the Researcher………………………………………………………………………………. 59
Role of the Researcher……………………………………………………………………………… 62
Limitations of the Research……………………………………………………………………….. 63
Summary…………………………………………………………………………………………………. 65
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