Writing the Methods Section of a Thesis

1. Research Design
💡 Tips:
• Clearly state whether the study is qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods.
• If quantitative, specify the exact type (e.g., descriptive, experimental,
correlational, causal-comparative).
• If qualitative, specify if it's a case study, phenomenology, ethnography, etc.
• Justify why this design is the best fit for your study.
📌 Key Points to Remember:
✅ The design should align with your research objectives.
✅ Mention how you will collect and analyze data.
✅ Explain if the study is cross-sectional (one-time data collection) or longitudinal (data
collected over time).
📝 Example:
This study utilized a descriptive quantitative research design to assess the factors
influencing stress levels among college students. A survey method was employed to
gather data from respondents at a single point in time. This design was chosen because
it allows for the collection of numerical data that can be analyzed statistically to identify
patterns and relationships between stress and coping mechanisms.
________________________________________
2. Respondents of the Study
💡 Tips:
• Define the population of your study.
• Specify inclusion and exclusion criteria (e.g., only third-year students, excluding
students who recently took a leave of absence).
• State the total number of respondents and how they were determined.
📌 Key Points to Remember:
✅ Clearly define who qualifies as a respondent.
✅ Justify why you chose this specific group.
✅ If ethical approval was needed (e.g., minors, clinical populations), mention it.
📝 Example:
The respondents of the study were third-year BSHM students enrolled at Bestlink
College of the Philippines during the academic year 2024-2025. A total of 150 students
participated, selected based on their academic standing and willingness to participate in
the study. Only students who were actively enrolled and had completed at least two
semesters were included to ensure familiarity with academic stressors.
3. Sampling Technique
💡 Tips:
• Indicate whether you used probability sampling (random selection) or non-
probability sampling (non-random selection).
• If probability sampling, specify the type (e.g., simple random, stratified, cluster).
• If non-probability sampling, specify the type (e.g., purposive, convenience,
snowball sampling).
• Justify why this technique was chosen.
📌 Key Points to Remember:
✅ Probability sampling gives every participant an equal chance of selection.
✅ Non-probability sampling is useful when access to the entire population is limited.
✅ Larger sample sizes improve the reliability of findings.
📝 Example:
The study employed a stratified random sampling technique to ensure adequate
representation from different academic year levels. Students were divided into three
strata based on their year level (first-year, second-year, third-year), and respondents
were randomly selected from each group. This method was chosen to ensure that
insights were gathered from students at different stages of their academic journey.
4. Instrument Used in the Study
💡 Tips:
• Describe the tool used (e.g., survey questionnaire, structured interview, test,
checklist).
• If adapting an existing tool, cite the source and mention any modifications.
• If developing a new tool, explain the process (e.g., expert consultation, literature
review).
• If multiple tools are used, describe each separately.
📌 Key Points to Remember:
✅ Mention the format of the instrument (e.g., multiple-choice, Likert scale).
✅ Explain how the instrument measures the variables in your study.
✅ Justify why this tool was appropriate.
📝 Example:
The primary instrument used in this study was a self-constructed survey questionnaire,
designed to measure stress levels and coping mechanisms among students. The
questionnaire comprised three sections: (1) Demographic Information, (2) Perceived
Stress Scale (PSS) adapted from Cohen et al. (1983), and (3) Coping Strategies
Checklist, developed based on Lazarus and Folkman’s (1984) coping model.
Responses for Sections 2 and 3 were recorded on a five-point Likert scale, ranging from
"Strongly Disagree" (1) to "Strongly Agree" (5).
5. Construction of the Questionnaire
💡 Tips:
• Explain how the questionnaire was created (e.g., literature review, expert
validation).
• Describe how the questions are structured (e.g., sections, types of questions).
• Justify why certain scales or response formats were chosen.
📌 Key Points to Remember:
✅ Make sure the questions align with your research objectives.
✅ Avoid leading or biased questions.
✅ Mention if it was pre-tested before full implementation.
📝 Example:
The questionnaire was constructed based on a review of existing literature and
consultation with psychology experts. Items were designed to capture students'
perceived stress levels, coping mechanisms, and academic pressures. The instrument
underwent an initial pilot test with 30 students to ensure clarity and relevance. Based on
feedback, minor revisions were made to enhance readability.
6. Validation of the Questionnaire
💡 Tips:
• Mention if experts validated the questionnaire.
• If a pilot test was conducted, state how many participants were involved.
• Discuss how reliability was measured (e.g., Cronbach’s alpha for internal
consistency).
📌 Key Points to Remember:
✅ A Cronbach’s alpha of 0.70 or higher indicates good reliability.
✅ Expert validation ensures content relevance and clarity.
✅ Pilot testing helps detect confusing or misleading questions.
📝 Example:
The questionnaire underwent content validation by three experts in psychology and
research methodology. They assessed the questionnaire for clarity, relevance, and
appropriateness to the study’s objectives. After incorporating their feedback, the
instrument was pilot-tested on 30 students not included in the main study. The reliability
of the questionnaire was tested using Cronbach’s alpha, yielding a coefficient of 0.85,
indicating high internal consistency.
________________________________________
7. Statistical Treatment of Data
💡 Tips:
• Identify descriptive statistics (e.g., mean, percentage, standard deviation).
• Identify inferential statistics (e.g., t-test, ANOVA, regression, correlation).
• Explain why these statistical methods were chosen.
📌 Key Points to Remember:
✅ Choose the correct statistical test based on your research objectives.
✅ Mention the software used for analysis (e.g., SPSS, Excel, R, Python).
✅ Provide the significance level (typically 0.05).
📝 Example:
The collected data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Frequency,
percentage, mean, and standard deviation were used to summarize demographic
information and stress levels. To test for significant differences between groups, a t-test
was conducted for gender differences, while ANOVA was applied to compare stress
levels across year levels. Pearson’s correlation was used to determine the relationship
between stress levels and coping strategies. Statistical analysis was performed using
SPSS version 26, with a significance level set at 0.05.
Final Tips for Writing the Methods Section
✅ Keep it clear and concise while including necessary details.
✅ Ensure consistency between your research questions, design, and statistical
methods.
✅ Justify why each method was chosen.
✅ Use past tense since the study has already been conducted (e.g., "was used" instead
of "is used").
✅ Ensure ethical considerations (e.g., confidentiality, informed consent).