The methodological framework is a critical component of any research report. This section should provide the procedural details of how the study was conducted.
The methodological framework itself provides a context for such a study. In addition, it is used to evaluate the quality of research.
Therefore, it requires a clear and precise description of how the investigation was carried out and the justification for the choice of procedures.
The methodological framework of the research report should describe the steps taken to answer the research question. This should include a description of how it was done and an explanation of how the results were analyzed.
Characteristics of the methodological framework
The method chosen in an investigation affects the findings and, by extension, the interpretation. The methodology is crucial because an unreliable method produces unreliable results, undermining its value.
Therefore, an explanation of how these results were obtained and interpreted is necessary. This is the methodological framework.
Now, this framework has certain distinctive characteristics. First, a detailed explanation of the study should be given in this section. It is very important in science that the results are replicable.
If the authors provide enough detail, other scientists can repeat their experiments to verify their findings.
This information is particularly important when a new method has been developed or an innovative use of an existing method is used.
On the other hand, in most cases, there are a variety of different methods for answering a research problem. In addition, there are different techniques and widely accepted processes in each field of study.
The methodological framework should clearly state the reasons why a particular procedure or technique was chosen.
You must state that the data was collected or generated in a manner consistent with accepted practice across disciplines.
In addition, it must be taken into account that the methodological framework is a text of the scientific genre. Therefore, the writing must be direct and orderly. It is generally written in the passive voice and in the third person.
However, the qualitative paradigm accepts active voice and first person. For clarity, when a large amount of detail must be presented, the information should be presented in subsections according to topic. The material in each section should be organized by topic from highest to lowest importance.
Structure of the methodological framework
In general, the methodological framework is structured in subsections. However, the titles of these subsections will depend, to a great extent, on the institutional requirements or the style adopted (APA, Chicago, MLA).
For example, subsections of the methodological framework in the APA (American Psychology Association) format typically include:
-Participants: indicates who took part in the study and the population from which they were drawn.
-Materials: instruments, measures, equipment or stimuli used are described.
-Design: type of design used, including variables.
-Procedure: procedures used in an orderly manner.
References
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By Monique M. New York: Oxford University Press.
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- University of Southern California. (2017, December 08). Retrieved on December 21, 2017, from libguides.usc.edu.
- Erdemir, F. (2013). How to write a materials and methods section of a scientific article? Turkish Journal of Urology, No. 39, pp. 10–15.
- Cherry, K. (2017, June 09). How to Write a Method Section. Things to Consider When Writing the Method Section of an APA Paper. Retrieved on December 21, 2017, from verywell.com.