The undergraduate thesis is an important part of study abroad research, and the “Methodology” section of the thesis is a critical component. This section requires students to clearly articulate the research methodology they have used to investigate a particular topic or question, and the process by which it has been implemented, in order to guide and support subsequent research. However, many students may still be confused about this, so I would like to further explore the knowledge of ‘Methodology’ and its writing principles.
Firstly, we need to understand that the term ‘Methodology’ refers to an in-depth description and explanation of the research methodology before the main body of the thesis. For the structure of the dissertation in western countries, “Methodology” is usually listed after “Literature Review”. At this stage, students are required to explain their research methodology, the reasons for choosing it, and the detailed steps for implementing it. At the same time, the advantages and disadvantages of the research methodology and its impact on the research problem of the dissertation are explained. And, the detailed differences between various research methods cannot be ignored.
On this basis, students are required to write the “Methodology” according to the following steps:
Briefly summarise the background to the research;
Detailed description of the research methods, such as qualitative research and quantitative research, and reveal the reasons for choosing these methods and their advantages;
Elaborate on the details of how the data were obtained, the process, and the equipment and tools used;
Describe the subject of the study and briefly state the reasons for selecting the subject and the time, place and name of the study;
Specify the start and end dates of the study and the steps taken throughout the process;
In-depth analyses of the data collected, including the use of support software, if any;
In-depth reflection on the research methodology adopted and assessment of its soundness and reliability;
Detailed list of difficulties and challenges encountered during the research process, and identification of potential shortcomings and improvement measures.
3 In addition, we should also pay attention to the weighting of Methodology in the thesis. Generally speaking, it accounts for about 20% of the total mark. It is clear that “Methodology” is an important part of the thesis, both for the instructor and the student.
This information should be clear and easy to understand, no matter where you are and what language you are teaching. For your students who are about to go through university, I hope that this guide will help them to better understand and prepare for the “Methodology” section, and that it will enable them to reach a new milestone in the thesis writing process. Finally, I would like to thank you again for your hard work and wish you all the best in your endeavours!
