Areas of application

In the natural and engineering sciences, one distinguishes between:

• more theoretical theses (simulation, calculation)
• practical theses (experiment, field trial, experimental setup; see Hirsch-Weber et al. 2016, p. 81)

In the social and economic sciences, theses are often empirical, i.e., data are collected, e.g., through a questionnaire or interviews.

Literature: Hirsch-Weber, Andreas et al. (2016): Wissenschaftliches Schreiben und Abschlussarbeit in Natur- und Ingenieurwissenschaften Stuttgart: Verlag Eugen Ulmer. Full text via VPN.

Across disciplinary boundaries, the research method should be comprehensible for the target group and justified in a plausible way. Usually, the method is explained and justified briefly in the introduction or in detail in a separate chapter.

Material list for empirical work

Frequently asked questions

Der Beitrag Research Methods in Academic Papers erschien zuerst auf Online Writing Lab.

What belongs in the methodology chapter?

For empirical studies, the methods you used to collect or generate your data and the methods used for analysis and interpretation belong in a separate chapter of your academic paper, together with a justification for your choice of methods.

For literature and theoretical papers, you may also choose, in consultation with your supervisor, to outline the procedure you followed. Since the method here essentially consists of researching, reading, and evaluating literature, however, a separate chapter is not usually included. If you find it useful, you can explain in the introduction which search terms, academic sources, theories, publication years, and languages etc. you focused on and how you proceeded.

In the methodology chapter, describe your methodological approach as precisely and transparently as possible. Focus on who did what, how, and when?

Ideally, keep a research diary in which you record all relevant steps, observations, and your thoughts throughout the entire process. This ensures that you won’t miss any important information later.

How do I phrase the methodology chapter?

When writing the methodology section, maintain a factual, report-like style and avoid overly detailed narratives – focus on the essentials. Justify your decisions and, where appropriate, refer to relevant literature.

• Structure: Organize the methodology section logically, for example, by discussing the type of research, data collection, data analysis, and applied quality criteria separately.
• Justifications: Explain why you chose certain methods or steps, and refer to relevant academic literature to support your decisions.
• Avoid repetition: Make sure to not repeat yourself and concentrate on aspects relevant to your research question.
• Objective style: Use objective and precise language. Avoid personal opinions or evaluations.

Examples from the methodology section of a student research paper

Describing the methodology is an optional part of the structure of an academic paper.

Frequently asked questions

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