Free methodology template. A complete dissertation methodology structure — research philosophy, approach, design, data collection, sampling, analysis, ethics and limitations — with guidance on justifying every choice. Copy and adapt.
The template
1. Introduction Restate the research aim and outline the chapter.
2. Research philosophy Your stance (e.g. positivism, interpretivism) and why it fits your question.
3. Research approach Deductive or inductive; quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods — with justification.
4. Research design / strategy Survey, experiment, case study, interviews, etc., and why it suits your aim.
5. Data collection Instruments and procedure (questionnaire, interview guide, secondary data). How and where data was gathered.
6. Sampling Population, sampling method, sample size and rationale.
7. Data analysis How you analysed the data (statistical tests, thematic analysis, software such as SPSS or NVivo).
8. Ethical considerations Consent, anonymity, data protection, approval.
9. Limitations Honest constraints of your method and their impact.
References
How to use this template
Justify every choice
A methodology is marked on justification, not description. For each decision — philosophy, approach, design, sampling — explain why it suits your research question, ideally citing methods literature.
Make it reproducible
A reader should be able to repeat your study from your methodology. Include enough detail on instruments, procedure and analysis to make that possible.
Be honest about limitations
Every method has trade-offs. Acknowledging the limitations of your design — and their likely effect on your findings — demonstrates the critical awareness examiners reward.
Typically: research philosophy, approach (deductive/inductive, qualitative/quantitative/mixed), design/strategy, data collection methods, sampling, data analysis, ethical considerations and limitations — each with a justification.
Methods are the specific techniques you used (e.g. interviews, a survey, a t-test). Methodology is the broader justification — why those methods, grounded in your research philosophy and approach — that makes your choices defensible.
In a typical empirical dissertation the methodology is around 15% of the total word count. Use our dissertation word count calculator to get an exact figure.
Most master’s and PhD dissertations require you to state and justify a research philosophy (such as positivism or interpretivism). Undergraduate work may treat it more briefly — check your brief.
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