Hi Zeeshan Hamid,

I found the book "Research Design" by John Creswell very good in helping you navigate among three research methodologies, qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods (https://books.google.com.au/books?hl=en&lr=&id=EbogAQAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=creswell+research+design&ots=cbaSpPQCDa&sig=sICmGDzuYFnDLH0KYm-tJToMzWM#v=onepage&q=creswell%20research%20design&f=false).

It explains to you the theoretical paradigms (such as social constructionism or post-positivism) which lead you to the formation of research methodology, research methods (data collection, data analysis and validation). When you are clear of what approach you will follow, for instance, qualitative methodology, you can read 'Qualitative design' (https://books.google.com.au/books?hl=en&lr=&id=DLbBDQAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=creswell+research+design&ots=-gn838IWUz&sig=KEKN1BHZ6CwzkhyNpNtKvJLNz38#v=onepage&q=creswell%20research%20design&f=false). It will guide you to choose among five common approaches such as narrative studies or case study or ethnography. Or mixed methods such as (https://books.google.com.au/books?hl=en&lr=&id=F8BFOM8DCKoC&oi=fnd&pg=PA209&dq=mixed+methods+creswell&ots=gVaTuxswQc&sig=x88Qtut8-w0H_xPLYfko5xfjtMM#v=onepage&q=mixed%20methods%20creswell&f=false).

Hope it helps.

Best regards,

kien

Hi Zeeshan,

There are many texts out there that cover this. I attach several chapters here that cover the three paradigms of qualitative, mixed methods and quantitative methodology and their common methodology process. Please note that methodology and method are different things - otherwise I would add more chapters. They are nursing and midwifery-related - but the principles are generic. I hope that helps.

Dear Dr. Dean Whitehead,

Thank you and appreciate your response with attached chapters. I would appreciate if you please share the difference between methodology and method too.

Thank you a lot!

Hi Zeeshan Hamid,

I found the book "Research Design" by John Creswell very good in helping you navigate among three research methodologies, qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods (https://books.google.com.au/books?hl=en&lr=&id=EbogAQAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=creswell+research+design&ots=cbaSpPQCDa&sig=sICmGDzuYFnDLH0KYm-tJToMzWM#v=onepage&q=creswell%20research%20design&f=false).

It explains to you the theoretical paradigms (such as social constructionism or post-positivism) which lead you to the formation of research methodology, research methods (data collection, data analysis and validation). When you are clear of what approach you will follow, for instance, qualitative methodology, you can read 'Qualitative design' (https://books.google.com.au/books?hl=en&lr=&id=DLbBDQAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=creswell+research+design&ots=-gn838IWUz&sig=KEKN1BHZ6CwzkhyNpNtKvJLNz38#v=onepage&q=creswell%20research%20design&f=false). It will guide you to choose among five common approaches such as narrative studies or case study or ethnography. Or mixed methods such as (https://books.google.com.au/books?hl=en&lr=&id=F8BFOM8DCKoC&oi=fnd&pg=PA209&dq=mixed+methods+creswell&ots=gVaTuxswQc&sig=x88Qtut8-w0H_xPLYfko5xfjtMM#v=onepage&q=mixed%20methods%20creswell&f=false).

Hope it helps.

Best regards,

kien

Hi Zeeshan - to me - methodology is the philosophical/theoretical framework that overarches all research projects. Method, to me, relates the same as design. It is the 'doing' part of research i.e. sampling frameworks, ethics proposal, data collection and data analysis.

The following sources should also be helpful:

• Cohen, L., Manion, L. and Morrison, K. (2007). Research Methods in Education, Oxford, UK, Routledge.
• Creswell, J. W. (2009). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches, London, SAGE Publications Inc.
• Kilbourn, B. (2006). The Qualitative Dissertation Doctoral Proposal. Teachers College Record, 108, 4, pp. 529-576.
• Kivunja, C. (2016). How to Write An Effective Research Proposal For Higher Degree Research in Higher Education: Lessons From Practice. International Journal of Higher Education, 5, 2, pp. 163-172.
• Saunders, M., Thornhill, A. and Lewis, P. (2003). Research Methods for Business Students, England, Pearson Education Limited.
• What major point should be covered in research methodology section ?: https://www.researchgate.net/post/what_major_point_should_be_covered_in_research_methodology_section

Dear Trung-Kien Nguyen,

Thank you for sharing the links. Would it be possible for you to share the soft copies of these books in attachment? That would be of great help.

Dear Kenneth Lui-ming Ngie,

Thank you for your time to answer. Appreciate that you provided titles.

Dear Dr. Dean Whitehead,

Is it possible for your to kindly share the book (from you shared the chapters) as an attachment?

Zeeshan: Keep in mind that expectations for methodology sections often vary by field, university department and even by advisors. It is a good idea to get copies of successful proposals (particularly ones your advisor likes) and identify the factors they have in common. If you cannot do that, look at methodology chapters of dissertations. The methodology section of the proposal often serves as the basis of the methodology chapter of the dissertation.

I have provided several references that might prove useful. The methodology chapter would also depend upon whether you are doing inductive or deductive research. I believe most dissertations test hypotheses (deductive). If you are testing hypotheses, the methodology chapter should at a minimum explain how you are taking theoretical hypotheses developed through the literature review and converting them to measures and eventually data. In other words, how did you operationalize the hypotheses? It would also include information on the population and/or sampling technique, how you dealt with human subjects protection (if relevant) and what statistical test you used to test the hypothesis. If your methodology is unique and one of the reasons the study is valuable, you should include a discussion of the methodology of other studies and the weaknesses of these studies (and how your study overcame the weakness). This information is sometimes in the lit review.

The methodology discussion should be clear. This means that if someone wanted to replicate the study they would know how to do this. A hazy methodology discussion is useless.

It is important to be able to connect the data collection modality to the hypotheses. Note that not all studies use hypotheses as the framework. The articles and book below go deeper into the things I have talked about and take into account instances where explanation and hypotheses are not the research purpose-framework pairing.

If you are doing inductive research, the data is collected and used to identify a theoretical framework. In this case it is still important to be clear. Ask yourself whether a reader could imagine him or herself replicating the study. If the answer is no, the methodology section needs more work.

Article Intermediate Theory: The Missing Link to Successful Student ...

Article Pragmatism as a philosophy of science: A tool for public adm...

Chapter Public Administration Methodology: A Pragmatic Perspective

Shields, P. and Rangarajan, N. 2013. Playbook for Research Methods: Integrating Conceptual Frameworks and Project Management New Forums Press.

Dear Dr. Patricia M. Shields,

Thank you very much for your time to answer it is very helpful for me and cleared many things.

Kind regards, Zeeshan

Zeeshan: I am glad you found the response useful.

If you are testing hypotheses, something called an operationalization table would be a useful way to summarize how the hypotheses are converted to measures. This table can be part of the methodology section of a proposal. The Intermediate Theory article and the Playbook give lots of examples (see earlier post). This would ensure that you were exhaustive. Also, if the information is in a table, you do not have to use the narrative to explain variable measurement. Rather you explain how to interpret the operationalization table and give an example. The table does the rest.

As far as mixed methods go -- it depends on the research purpose. Methods are tools to help achieve a purpose (for empirical inquiry). Evidence can take many forms -- Your research question/purpose and conceptual framework should provide direction about the kinds of evidence needed.

I have found that when the purpose is linked to a specific case (or cases) triangulation is usually possible. Here different kinds of evidence should converge. If so, you have greater confidence that the finding is authentic (this often means supports the hypothesis).

Good Luck, Pat Shields

Hi Zeeshan,

Those books have copyrights. If you have an account from your university, you must have access to those books. Best regards, kien

Hi Zeeshan,

Have you looked at the PhD supervisors previous publications? I was advised by a friend to do this and it helped me get the position. I am a mixed methods researcher, but my supervisor is not a fan and would not want a mixed methods approach to be used in the PhD- unless there was very good reason for it, so I made sure to discuss the methodological choices which she favours (without abandoning the type of research I like completely of course).

I suggest Creswell for anything qualitative/ mixed methods,

Good luck!

CRESWELL, J. W. (2018). Qualitative inquiry and research design: choosing among five approaches. Los Angeles, Calif. [etc.], Sage.

CRESWELL, J. W., & PLANO CLARK, V. L. (2018). Designing and conducting mixed methods research.

CRESWELL, J. W. (2015). A concise introduction to mixed methods research.