Research Report Writing Presentation How to write a complete research report Part 3: Methodology

CHAPTER 5. CONCLUSION CHAPTER 4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION CHAPTER 2. BACKGROUND What to Write in the Methodology Section CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION 1.Context and setting the scene 2.Statement of the problem 3.Purpose 4.Significance of the study 5.Research questions and hypotheses CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION 1.Context and setting the scene 2.Statement of the problem 3.Purpose 4.Significance of the study 5.Research questions and hypotheses CHAPTER 3. METHODOLOGY Restate purpose and research questions or null hypotheses Population and sampling Instrumentation Procedure and time frame Analysis plan Validity and reliability Assumptions Scope and limitations CHAPTER 3. METHODOLOGY Restate purpose and research questions or null hypotheses Population and sampling Instrumentation Procedure and time frame Analysis plan Validity and reliability Assumptions Scope and limitations

CHAPTER 3. METHODOLOGY How the research questions are to be answered

Purpose and Research Questions Restate the: 1.Purpose of the research 2.Research questions and any null hypotheses. purpose research questions The purpose and research questions are repeated in the introduction and also in the research proposal. This information was presented in the research proposal!

Population, Sampling Frame and Sampling Describe the population that results of the study may be generalized to. Describe the subset of the population from which sample data was drawn. Describe the sampling method. This information was presented in the research proposal!

Instrumentation If you have produced an instrument for capturing data then describe the procedure for testing the instrument for reliability and validity. A copy of the instrument should be included in an appendix. Observation research monitors respondents' actions without directly interacting with them (Walonick 2007)

Procedure and timeframe Describe how data was captured Describe when and where data was captured Notes There needs to be sufficient detail in this description of what the researcher did for the reader to be able to recreate the study for themselves. There also needs to be sufficient detail to enable the reader to make an informed decision about the credibility and generalisability of the study findings.

Scope and Limitations The limitations of the research are factors beyond the control of the researcher and which have a bearing on the outcome of the study. These need to be identified. The scope of the research refers to the delimitations decided by the researcher that impact on the extent to which findings can be generalized. Delimitations are a design decision that the researcher decides upon.

Getting the Analysis Right Computers make it easy to do the analysis of your data, but for each statistical technique there is: 1.A set of assumptions that must be met before the technique can be used. 2.A set of limitations that apply when a specific technique is used. 3.Describe the alpha level used for testing (if used). Try to write down a strong case for using the techniques you use. This will show the reader that you have thought carefully about what statistical techniques you intend to use. Describe all assumptions for using techniques and the limitations of findings.

Justify Methods Used! Each statistical technique has its own assumptions and limitations. Considering the ease in which computers can calculate complex statistical problems, the danger is that the researcher might be unaware of the assumptions and limitations in the use and interpretation of a statistic.(Walonick 2007) Ensure that it is clear to the reader that you know when to use specific techniques and that you have used these techniques accurately.

END OF CHAPTER 3. METHODOLOGY Explanation of the Methodology Section of a research report