Research methodology is a way of explaining how a researcher intends to carry out their research. It's a logical, systematic plan to resolve a research problem. A methodology details a researcher's approach to the research to ensure reliable, valid results that address their aims and objectives. It encompasses what data they're going to collect and where from, as well as how it's being collected and analyzed. In another reference,research methodology simply refers to the practical “how” of any given piece of research. More specifically, it’s about how a researcher systematically designs a study to ensure valid and reliable results that address the research aims and objectives.
For example, how did the researcher go about deciding:
What data to collect (and what data to ignore)
Who to collect it from (in research, this is called “sampling design”)
How to collect it (this is called “data collection methods”)
How to analyse it (this is called “data analysis methods”)
A research methodology gives research legitimacy and provides scientifically sound findings. It also provides a detailed plan that helps to keep researchers on track, making the process smooth, effective and manageable. A researcher's methodology allows the reader to understand the approach and methods used to reach conclusions.
1. Introduction to Research
1.1) Research philosophy, theory and causality
1.2) Selecting a focus for a study
1.3) Identifying and selecting a research paradigm, either qualitative research (inductive approach) or quantitative research (deductive approach) or a combination of both (triangulation)
1.4) Type of research design for construction management research which includes: action research, ethnographic, surveys (cross sectional and longitudinal studies, experiments and grounded theory.
2. Selection of a Research Topic and a Paradigm
2.1) Identifying and writing a research topic by describing it succinctly.
2.2) Drafting a working title and considering whether it is researchable.
2.3) Choosing a paradigm, either quantitative, qualitative or a combination of both.
3. Problem Statement, Objectives and Hypotheses
3.1) Identifying and writing a clear, right and important problem statement
3.2) Developing and writing clear objectives that are relevant to the problem statement
3.3) Developing and writing relevant, testable and resolvable objectives in hypothesis form of otherwise
4. Reviewing the Literature
4.1) Conducting literature search and writing literature review
4.2) Producing conceptual/theoretical framework
5. Methodology
5.1) Identifying and writing research variables and reliable research population.
5.2) Identifying and explaining measuring instruments
5.3) Identifying and explaining the limitations of research design
5.4) Identifying and writing appropriate research methodology
6. Analysis
6.1) Descriptive statistics and exploratory data analysis
6.2) Frequency distribution, descriptive or inferential statistics
6.3) Qualitative data analysis methods
6.4) Discussion of analysis results
6.5) Appropriate writing of analysis results and discussion
7. Conclusion
7.1) Developing consistent conclusion
7.2) Identifying limitations of research
7.3) Presenting research recommendation