Chapter 8:

Writing Methodology
 Methodology
The methodology chapter or section describes how you conducted your research. You
should include:

● The overall approach and type of research (e.g. qualitative, quantitative,

experimental, ).
● Your methods of collecting data (e.g. interviews, surveys, archives).
● Details of where, when, and with whom the research took place.
● Your methods of analysing data (e.g. statistical analysis, discourse analysis).
● Tools and materials you used (e.g. computer programs, lab equipment).
● A discussion of any obstacles you faced in conducting the research and how you
overcame them.
● An evaluation or justification of your methods.
 Writing Methodology
In the methodology chapter you should:

● Describe what type of questions were asked.

● Where, when, and how the survey was conducted.
● Describe the sampling method used to select participants, the sample
size and response rate.
● Use the past tense in the methodology chapter
 Writing methodology

How to Write a Research Methodology

5:38
 Steps to write research methodology

● Step 1: Explain methodological approach

● Step 2: Describe methods of data collection
● Step 3: Describe methods of analysis
● Step 4: Evaluate and justify methodological choices
 Step 1: Explain methodological approach
·

Introduce the overall methodological approach for investigating

your research problem.
1. Is your study qualitative or quantitative or a combination of both
(mixed method)?
2. Are you going to collect primary or secondary data?
 Step 1: Explain methodological approach
Title: Towards improving teaching and learning pronunciation skills online
for the first-year students at FOE, HOU
Example 1:
1. Quantitative and qualitative approach
2. Types of data:
Primary: Survey (questionnaire for teachers)
OR/AND students’ previous pronunciation tests
Quantitative: Questionnaire, students’ errors in pronunciation tests
Qualitative: Interpret patterns of errors in pronunciation tests
 Step 1: Explain methodological approach
Title: Towards improving teaching and learning pronunciation skills online for
the first-year students at FOE, HOU
Example 2:
In this study, both qualitative and quantitative approaches were applied. The
qualitative approach was used to describe and analyze the causes of typical errors made by the
first-year students of FOE, HOU when learning English pronunciation. Besides, the
quantitative approach was applied to investigate the frequency of the typical errors.
In terms of a survey questionnaire
A survey questionnaire was applied to identify the typical errors made by the first-year
students of FOE, HOU when learning English pronunciation. The survey questionnaire
results were interpreted and used as a basis to propose some recommendations to
improve the quality of teaching and learning English pronunciation for the first-year
 Step 1: Explain methodological approach

Title: Towards improving teaching and learning pronunciation skills online

for the first-year students at FOE, HOU
In terms of previous pronunciation tests
In this study, the researcher used 100 previous pronunciation tests
randomly to collect data about the typical errors. The results of the
survey are interpreted and used as a basis to propose some
recommendations to improve the quality of teaching and learning
English pronunciation for the first-year students of FOE, HOU.
 Step 2: Describe methods of data collection
Title: Towards improving teaching and learning pronunciation skills online
for the first-year students at FOE, HOU
Example 3:
What to include
The sampling method: Random sampling
The tool, procedure and materials:
+ The tool: Survey questionnaire, tests
+ Procedure: Handing out the questionnaire, collecting the data
+ Materials: Handouts, records of students’ previous pronunciation
tests
The variables you measure: students’ errors in English pronunciation;
error frequency of students in English pronunciation tests
 Step 2: Describe methods of data collection
Title: Towards improving teaching and learning pronunciation skills
online for the first-year students at FOE, HOU
Example 4
The population of the study was the first-year students at FOE, HOU who had
just finished studying the subject English pronunciation in use. The aim was to
conduct a survey with 100 English majors chosen randomly from the total
population.
The survey questionnaire consisted of 10 multiple-choice questions and 10
questions with 5 ranking scale responses. The objective was to identify the
typical errors made by the first-year students of FOE, HOU when learning English
pronunciation.The students were given 20 minutes to complete the survey
anonymously and 110 students responded. Because not all survey were fully
completed, 102 survey results were included for analysis.
 Step 2: Describe methods of data collection

Title: Towards improving teaching and learning pronunciation skills online for the first-year

students at FOE, HOU

Example 6: In terms of the survey questionnaire

The questionnaire was designed to find out the opinion of the teachers about

typical errors made by the first-year students at FOE, HOU when learning English

pronunciation. The responses to the questions were sorted by error frequency levels,

from No Error, Rarely, Infrequently, Frequently to Always.

 Step 2: Describe methods of data collection
Title: Towards improving teaching and learning pronunciation skills online for the

first-year students at FOE, HOU

Example 7: In terms of pronunciation tests

100 previous English pronunciation tests was analyzed to identify the typical errors
made by the first-year students at FOE, HOU in the pronunciation tests. In addition,
frequency of these errors were counted, tabulated and sorted by 5 levels ranking from
No Error, Rarely, Infrequently, Frequently to Always.
 Step 2: Describe methods of data collection
Title: Towards improving teaching and learning pronunciation skills online
for the first-year students at FOE, HOU
Example 5 (Use past tenses)

The survey questionnaire consisted of 10 multiple-choice questions and 10

questions with 5 ranking scale responses.. The aim was to identify the typical
errors made by the first-year students of FOE, HOU when learning English
pronunciation.The students were given 20 minutes to complete the survey
anonymously and 110 students responded. Because not all survey were fully
completed, 102 survey results were included for analysis.
Step 3: Describe methods of analysis
Step 3: Describe methods of analysis
How to process and analyze the data
 Step 3: Describe methods of analysis
Ways to process and analyze the data
- Present main points of your results.
- Avoid going into too much detail.
- Do not discuss any of your results.
For quantitative methods (dealing with numbers)
- Describe the data preparation before analyzing.
- Use Softwares (the statistical software SPSS) to analyze the data.
- Check for missing data and outliers.
For qualitative methods (focusing on words)
- Analyze the data basing on language, images, and interpretations.
- Describe the way to categorize the responses to identify recurring
themes and patterns.
 Step 3: Describe methods of analysis

Example 8:
After the questionnaire was administered, all data on pronunciation
errors were collected, tabulated, interpreted and statically analyzed. A
MS Excel sheet was used to process the data and then the data were
analyzed with the help of Statistical Package for the Social Science
(SPSS) to classify into types of errors and patterns of frequency levels.
 Step 4: Evaluate and justify methodological choices

Your methodology should:

- Indicate why you chose these particular methods.
- Discuss why other methods were not suitable for your objectives.
- Show how this approach contributes new knowledge or understanding.
- Acknowledge limitations or weaknesses of the study.
 Step 4: Evaluate and justify methodological choices

Few tips to make your methodology chapter better.

- Focus on your objectives and research questions.
- Show why your methods suit your objectives and research questions.
- Cite methodological literature that supports your methodology.
- Explain how you dealt with the difficulties in collecting or analyzing
data (if necessary).
- Show how you minimize the impacts of any unexpected obstacles.
 Step 4: Evaluate and justify methodological choices
Title: Towards improving teaching and learning pronunciation skills online for the
first-year students at FOE, HOU

Example 9:

The study’s methodology was applied suitably to the research aim, objectives and questions.
The quantitative method was used to calculate the typical errors made by the first-year
students of FOE, HOU when learning English Pronunciation like pronouncing stressed and
unstressed words, elsion, assimilation, intonation etc.
The qualitative method was used to generate causes leading to the typical errors made by the
first-year students of FOE, HOU when learning English Pronunciation. This method enabled the
researcher to identify exactly the typical errors made by the students in English communication.
Example of writing Methodology

Example of Methodology 1
Example of writing Methodology

Example of Methodology 2