Writing Research Paper 4

Methodology

Explains why and how a particular method or research design is chosen. Foundation and strategic framework behind your research.

Research Design

State whether your study is qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods.

Sampling Methods

The techniques used to recruit participants.

Participants

Details about the number, ratio of male to female, and age gap of individuals involved in the study.

Data Collection Methods

Describes how data was collected, through observation/interview, including whether observations were covert or overt.

Role of Researcher

Description of the researcher's involvement and how it influenced insights.

Data Analysis

Explains how data was interpreted, often involving the use of a theory to structure the interpretation.

Ethics

Moral principles and guidelines that govern how researchers design, conduct, and report studies, protecting participants’ rights, dignity, safety, and well-being.

Informed Consent

Participants must receive full information about the study and voluntarily agree to take part.

Right to Withdraw

Participants can stop or leave the study at any time without negative consequences.

Confidentiality

Personal information from participants must be kept private and secure.

Anonymity

Data collected must not be traceable to individual identities.

Protection from Harm

Participants must not experience physical, psychological, or emotional harm during the study.

Deception (Ethics)

Refers to misleading participants; it must be minimal, justified, and followed by a thorough debriefing.

Debriefing

Participants are fully informed of the true purpose of the study after their participation.

Ethics Approval

Ethical guidelines must be approved by an Ethics Committee or Institutional Review Board (IRB).

Consequences

Harm to participants.

Loss of trust.

Legal sanctions

Retraction of published work.