phd research methodology pdf

Research Methodology Example

Detailed Walkthrough + Free Methodology Chapter Template

If you’re working on a dissertation or thesis and are looking for an example of a research methodology chapter , you’ve come to the right place.

In this video, we walk you through a research methodology from a dissertation that earned full distinction , step by step. We start off by discussing the core components of a research methodology by unpacking our free methodology chapter template . We then progress to the sample research methodology to show how these concepts are applied in an actual dissertation, thesis or research project.

If you’re currently working on your research methodology chapter, you may also find the following resources useful:

  • Research methodology 101 : an introductory video discussing what a methodology is and the role it plays within a dissertation
  • Research design 101 : an overview of the most common research designs for both qualitative and quantitative studies
  • Variables 101 : an introductory video covering the different types of variables that exist within research.
  • Sampling 101 : an overview of the main sampling methods
  • Methodology tips : a video discussion covering various tips to help you write a high-quality methodology chapter
  • Private coaching : Get hands-on help with your research methodology

Free Webinar: Research Methodology 101

PS – If you’re working on a dissertation, be sure to also check out our collection of dissertation and thesis examples here .

FAQ: Research Methodology Example

Research methodology example: frequently asked questions, is the sample research methodology real.

Yes. The chapter example is an extract from a Master’s-level dissertation for an MBA program. A few minor edits have been made to protect the privacy of the sponsoring organisation, but these have no material impact on the research methodology.

Can I replicate this methodology for my dissertation?

As we discuss in the video, every research methodology will be different, depending on the research aims, objectives and research questions. Therefore, you’ll need to tailor your literature review to suit your specific context.

You can learn more about the basics of writing a research methodology chapter here .

Where can I find more examples of research methodologies?

The best place to find more examples of methodology chapters would be within dissertation/thesis databases. These databases include dissertations, theses and research projects that have successfully passed the assessment criteria for the respective university, meaning that you have at least some sort of quality assurance.

The Open Access Thesis Database (OATD) is a good starting point.

How do I get the research methodology chapter template?

You can access our free methodology chapter template here .

Is the methodology template really free?

Yes. There is no cost for the template and you are free to use it as you wish.

Caroline

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phd research methodology pdf

How to Write a PhD Research Proposal

PhD research proposal

Starting on PhD research is a big step in a researcher’s academic journey, and submitting a research proposal is a significant part of it. Indeed, many PhD scholars seek guidance on how to write a PhD research proposal , which is the foundational document that outlines the scope, objectives, and methodology of their prospective doctoral study. This article takes a look at the essential elements of a PhD research proposal and discuss practical steps to help develop an effective and strong document.  

What is a PhD Research Proposal ?  

Think of a PhD research proposal as a blueprint for your research. It lays out the main questions you want to seek answers to in your study, and presents an overview of the field you are planning to dive into. The PhD research proposal is not just about summarizing what is already available in the public domain. It is a critical document that demonstrates the feasibility, significance, and originality of the proposed research, and therefore, plays a crucial role in influencing admission decisions and securing funding opportunities. It also explains how your research is different and new and underscores the unique angles, perspectives and originality of your area of study.[ 1]    

Why is a PhD Research Proposal Needed?  

Even though your research proposal focuses on what you plan to do in the future, supervisors and funders also want to see what you have already achieved academically. Their interest lies in how well you understand the existing research, including recent studies and discussions in your academic field.   

Therefore, it is essential to showcase your awareness about gaps in current knowledge and how your research will develop new knowledge and perspectives. Presenting a clear and detailed picture of this background is critical.[ 2]  

How to Structure Your PhD Research Proposal ?  

Research proposals can vary based on the institution you wish to send the proposal to or your subject of study, but there is a broad structure that needs to be followed.[ 3][4][5]  A good PhD research proposal structure should highlight what makes your idea unique, feasible, and significant.   

Follow these proven tips to structure a PhD research proposal and make it stand out:  

  • Provisional Title: The title should not only describe the subject matter but also hint at your approach or main question.   
  • Key Question: The key question is crucial for defining the scope and purpose of the research, making sure everything stays clear and organized.  
  • Topic Description: This section serves to introduce readers to the topic being studied, outlines its key focus areas, and helps establish a clear context for the study.   
  • Existing Knowledge: Here, researchers are required to provide a brief outline of existing knowledge drawn from seminal works, recent research findings, and ongoing debates and highlight gaps in the literature, demonstrating their awareness of existing scholarship.  
  • Detailed Bibliography: A detailed bibliography not only reflects the thoroughness of the literature review but also provides credibility to the proposed study. It allows reviewers to assess the quality and relevance of sources and enables them to gauge the scholarly merit of the PhD proposal.  
  • Research Methodology: Details of a comprehensive plan outlining the methodology, procedures, and techniques that will be employed to address the research objectives are included here. Methodology includes information on any special facilities, resources, or equipment required for data collection, analysis, or experimentation.   
  • Research Plan: This section provides a structured outline of the tasks and activities to be undertaken, along with their respective deadlines or milestones. It includes key phases such as literature review, data collection, analysis, and writing up the findings.   

How Long Should a PhD Research Proposal be?  

A research proposal typically spans approximately 2,500 words, although there is flexibility in the length as there is no strict upper or lower limit. However, the length may vary depending on the requirements of the institution or funding agency.   

Tips for Writing Your PhD Research Proposal  

Now that you understand the structure of a PhD research proposal , here are some tips to help you craft a compelling document: [7]    

  • Start early: Begin drafting your research proposal well in advance to allow yourself ample time for revisions and refinement.   
  • Be specific: Provide clear and detailed explanations of your objectives, methodology, and expected outcomes.   
  • Seek feedback: Share your proposal with peers or advisors to receive constructive feedback and suggestions for improvement.   
  • Write clearly and concisely: Use clear and concise language to convey your ideas effectively, avoiding unnecessary jargon or technical terms.   
  • Be ethical: Address any ethical considerations related to your research, such as participant consent or data privacy.  
  • Revise and proofread: Take time to revise, proofread and proofread again. Best to weed out any inconsistencies and errors for a favourable impression and to clearly communicate your ideas.  
  • Be passionate: Clearly convey your enthusiasm for the research topic and potential impact of your proposed study. Let your passion for your research topic shine through your proposal.  

References:  

  • How to write a PhD research proposal – University of Liverpool  
  • How to write a successful research proposal – Prospects  
  • How to write a good PhD proposal – The University of Queensland  
  • Writing a research proposal – Sociological Studies – The University of Sheffield  
  • Writing a Good PhD Research Proposal – Researchgate  
  • Guidelines to Writing a Research Proposal – University of Oxford  
  • Top tips for writing your research proposal – University of Birmingham  

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Related Reads:

  • How to Write the First Draft of a Research Paper with Paperpal? 
  • Research Funding Basics: What Should a Grant Proposal Include?

APA format: Basic Guide for Researchers

How to choose a dissertation topic, best wordtune alternative: detailed review and comparison, you may also like, how to write a research proposal: (with examples..., how to write an academic paragraph (step-by-step guide), maintaining academic integrity with paperpal’s generative ai writing..., research funding basics: what should a grant proposal..., how to write an abstract in research papers..., how to write dissertation acknowledgements, how to structure an essay, leveraging generative ai to enhance student understanding of....

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WRITING A GOOD Ph.D RESEARCH SYNOPSIS

Profile image of Hira Qureshi

Synopsis is a short summary of your Ph.D thesis work. This paper suggests some ideas to motivate the young researchers for effectively writing the Ph.D synopsis with essential tips and tricks.This can act as a reference and help young researcher to going to write Ph.D synopsis.

Related Papers

devashish tripathi

phd research methodology pdf

Shubham Mishra

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Provides guide to write the Research Project/Dissertation Synopsis

Scientific Research Publishing: Creative Education

Dr. Qais Faryadi

Literature writing is a skill that every PhD candidate must procure to communicate his or her research findings clearly. The main objective of this paper is to facilitate the literature writing process so that PhD candidates under- stand what PhD literature is and are able to write their PhD literature cor- rectly and scientifically. The methodology used in this research is a descrip- tive method as it deliberates and defines the various parts of literature writing process and elucidates the how to do of it in a very unpretentious and under- standing language. As thus, this paper summarizes the various steps of litera- ture writing to pilot the PhD students so that the task of PhD literature writ- ing process becomes adaptable and less discouraging. This research is a useful roadmap especially for students of the social science studies. Additionally, in this paper, literature writing techniques, procedures and important strategies are enlightened in a simple manner. This paper adopts a how-to approach when discussing a variety of relevant topics, such as literature review intro- duction, types of literature review, advantages of literature reviews, objective of literature review, literature review template, and important check lists about literature review are discussed. This paper has 5 parts, such as Intro- duction, Literature Review, Methodology, Results and Conclusion. The lit- erature review chapter is discussed in this paper. I will discuss the rest as a se- ries in the future. Keywords Thesis Writing Process, Literature Review, PhD, Social Science, Research Methodology

The Educational Review, USA

maria Fareed

Scientific Research Publishing: Creative Education.

Thesis writing is a skill that every PhD candidate must acquire to convey his or her research findings clearly. The main objective of this paper is to facili- tate the thesis writing process so that PhD candidates understand what a PhD thesis is and can write their thesis correctly and scientifically. The methodol- ogy used in this research was descriptive as it discusses and describes the var- ious parts of thesis writing process and explains how to do it in a very simple and understanding language. As thus, this article outlines the various steps of thesis writing to guide the PhD candidate so that the task of PhD thesis writ- ing becomes manageable and less daunting. This research is a useful roadmap especially for students of the social sciences studies. Further, in this paper, research procedure and thesis writing strategies are explained in a simple manner. This paper adopts a how-to approach when discussing a variety of relevant topics, such as thesis introduction, types of introductions, introduc- tion statements, problem statement, research questions, hypothesis and con- tributions of the study. This paper has 5 parts: Introduction, Literature Re- view, Methodology, Results and Conclusion. The introduction chapter is dis- cussed in this paper. I will discuss the rest as a series in the future.

International Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biological Science Archive

Mohammed Ismael Rushdi

An abstract is like a movie trailer. People will only consider reading the rest of the manuscript if they find your abstract interesting. It is an outline/brief summary of your paper and your whole project. Keywords: , research, descriptive and informative research.

This book aims to guide researchers, academicians and PhD candidates especially Social Science Researchers on how todo research systematically. Research is a premeditated investigation using scientific methodology (quantitative, qualitative,) to solve a serious problem (not ordinary problem), thus creating additional (new) knowledge. Research is also regarded as an inquiry of reality about something by testing a hypothesis, answering questions, generating new queries, finding solutions, and creating new knowledge. This book guides you how to effectively structure your research from the proposal till VIVA presentation. Although research designs may differ from one discipline to another, a general road map should include the following: Ø Topic of research Ø Research problem, questions and hypotheses Ø Review of current literature Ø Theoretical framework or methodology experimental, observation and so Ø Data collection and testing if any Ø Data analysis Ø Results Ø Discussions and Applications Ø Conclusion Ø References

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  1. PDF PhD Thesis Writing Process: A Systematic Approach—How to Write ...

    quantitative research methods to evaluate their research questions. In Observa-tion method, you observe your sample and listen to their conversations. Obser-vation can also be conducted through recording, such as narrative and categori-cal recording of the participants' oral discourse. 1.2. Useful Tipsin Writing Your Research Methodology

  2. (PDF) Fundamentals of Research Methodology

    PDF | Academic research is a relatively simple process when a PhD student knows the methodologies, methods and tools that underpin it. ... methods and tools of academic research to PhD students in ...

  3. PDF 3 Methodology

    3 Methodology3. Methodology(In this unit I use the word Methodology as a general term to cover whatever you decide to include in the chapter where you discuss alternative methodological approaches, justify your chosen research method, and describe the process and participants i. your study).The Methodology chapter is perhaps the part of a ...

  4. PDF Writing up your PhD (Qualitative Research)

    3 The Methodology Chapter 29-37 . 4 The Data Chapters 38-54 . 5 The Final Chapter 55-73 . 6 The First Few Pages 74-83 . About the course . Who is the course for? ... Writing up your PhD (Qualitative Research) (Independent Study version) Unit 1 . Structure and Introduction Tony Lynch ...

  5. PDF PhD Thesis Writing Process: A Systematic Approach—How to Write ...

    1) To help PhD candidates in writing scientifically correct PhD thesis. 2) To describe PhD thesis writing process. 3) To assist PhD candidates to understand what PhD means. 4. Methodology The methodology applied in this research was descriptive as it discusses and de-scribes the various parts of PhD thesis and explains the how to do of them in a

  6. PDF A Practical Guide to Dissertation and Thesis Writing

    Originality is a key issue in both dissertation and thesis development and writing (Bailey, 2014; Ferguson, 2009). The ideas, the subject and the method of approaching a piece of research cannot be identical to another piece of research (especially published research) if it is to be acceptable to a committee of examiners.

  7. PDF Research Methods Handbook

    In this handbook, we draw on insights from experienced open researchers to build understanding of research in the open. The advice given applies to all research, but is of particular relevance to those interested in open approaches. It can also be hard to raise concerns about methods with supervisors and/or peers.

  8. PDF Presenting Methodology and Research Approach

    Presenting Methodology and Research Approach 67 Table 3.1 Roadmap for Developing Methodology Chapter: Necessary Elements 1: Introduction and Overview Begin by stating purpose and research questions. Go on to explain how the chapter is organized. Then provide a rationale for using a qualitative research approach, as well as a rationale for the

  9. (Pdf) Handbook of Research Methodology

    Research methodology is taught as a supporting subject in several ways in many academic disciplines such as health, education, psychology, social work, nursing, public health, library studies ...

  10. (PDF) PhD Thesis Writing Process: A Systematic Approach—How to Write

    PDF | On Jan 1, 2019, Qais Faryadi published PhD Thesis Writing Process: A Systematic Approach—How to Write Your Methodology, Results and Conclusion | Find, read and cite all the research you ...

  11. PDF The Method Chapter

    The Method Chapter Describing Your Research Plan T he Method chapter of a dissertation, article, or proposal describes the exact steps that will be undertaken to address your hypotheses or research questions. For this reason, the Method section follows logically from the statement of the problem in much the same way as research

  12. PDF CHAPTER 4 Research Methodology and Design

    dentified for the framework of the study. In addition, the chapter discusses the research methodologies, and design used in the study including strategies, instruments, and data collection and analysis methods, while explaining the s. ages and processes involved in the study.The research design for this study is a descriptive and interpretive ...

  13. PDF Chapter Three: Research Methodology

    Chapter Three: Research Methodology. 3.1 Introduction. The way in which research is conducted may be conceived of in terms of the research philosophy subscribed to, the research strategy employed and so the research instruments utilised (and perhaps developed) in the pursuit of a goal - the research objective(s) - and the quest for the solution ...

  14. Research Methodology Example (PDF + Template)

    Research Methodology Example. Detailed Walkthrough + Free Methodology Chapter Template. If you're working on a dissertation or thesis and are looking for an example of a research methodology chapter, you've come to the right place. In this video, we walk you through a research methodology from a dissertation that earned full distinction ...

  15. PDF A Guide to Writing your PhD Proposal

    Therefore, in a good research proposal you will need to demonstrate two main things: . 1. that you are capable of independent critical thinking and analysis . 2. that you are capable of communicating your ideas clearly . Applying for a PhD is like applying for a job, you are not applying for a taught programme.

  16. PDF Research Methodology: Tools and Techniques

    There are many ways of obtaining knowledge. They are intuition, revelation, and authority, logical manipulation of basic assumptions, informed guesses, observation, and reasoning by analogy. One of the branches of research known as empirical research is highly goal-oriented technique. Definitions of Research:

  17. (PDF) Research Methodology in Doctoral Research: Understanding the

    PDF | On May 12, 2009, Monty Sutrisna published Research Methodology in Doctoral Research: Understanding the Meaning of Conducting Qualitative Research | Find, read and cite all the research you ...

  18. PDF How To Write a Good PhD Research Proposal

    PhD proposal is an outline of your proposed project. It needs to: Define a clear question and approach to answering it. Highlight its originality and/or significance. Explain how it adds to, develops (or challenges) existing literature in the field. Persuade potential supervisors of the importance of the work, and why you are the right person ...

  19. RESEARCH METHODS FOR MASTERS AND PhD Students.pdf

    The research design for this study is a descriptive and interpretive case study that is analysed through qualitative methods. Questionnaires were used to evaluate participants' WebCT skills (before the course starts) and to determine their levels of satisfaction in the course (at the end of the case study).

  20. How to Write a PhD Research Proposal

    Starting on PhD research is a big step in a researcher's academic journey, and submitting a research proposal is a significant part of it. Indeed, many PhD scholars seek guidance on how to write a PhD research proposal, which is the foundational document that outlines the scope, objectives, and methodology of their prospective doctoral study.This article takes a look at the essential ...

  21. (PDF) CHAPTER FIVE RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY 5.1. Introduction

    In other words, the research design sets the procedure on the required data, the methods to be applied to collect and analyze this data, and how all of this is going to answer the research ...

  22. (PDF) WRITING A GOOD Ph.D RESEARCH SYNOPSIS

    Thesis writing is a skill that every PhD candidate must acquire to convey his or her research findings clearly. The main objective of this paper is to facili- tate the thesis writing process so that PhD candidates understand what a PhD thesis is and can write their thesis correctly and scientifically. The methodol- ogy used in this research was ...

  23. SPPU PhD Admission 2024

    SPPU PhD Admission 2024 | Fundamental & Applied Research | Research Methodology | PET Exam 2024 Lecture pdf notes, Free mock Test avalible on AppTo join com...

  24. (PDF) RESEARCH METHODOLOGY-PhD Course work

    PDF | Research Methodology syllabus for PhD course work Exam | Find, read and cite all the research you need on ResearchGate ... RESEARCH METHODOLOGY-PhD Course work. January 2019; DOI:10.13140/RG ...

  25. (PDF) Research Methodology Notes

    Methodology - Research design/type, theory, method of data collection and analysis, ethical issues, duration/time and cost of the study. A methodology is defined as. an intersection of theory ...