MethodologyMethodologyResearch DesignsResearch Designs

Methods or procedures section describes in Methods or procedures section describes in detail the procedures that the researcher detail the procedures that the researcher proposes to use to carry out the proposed proposes to use to carry out the proposed study. The subsections included in the study. The subsections included in the Methodology section of a research proposal Methodology section of a research proposal will reflect the type of the study being will reflect the type of the study being proposed.proposed.

The Typical SubsectionsThe Typical Subsections

11 - -IntroductionIntroduction,,22 - -Research designResearch design,,

33 - -SampleSample,,44 - -Instruments, (or Instrumentation)Instruments, (or Instrumentation),,

55 - -Treatment in an experimental studyTreatment in an experimental study,,66 - -Data collection proceduresData collection procedures,,

77 - -Data analysis proceduresData analysis procedures;;88 & - & -limitationslimitations . .

introductionintroduction

The methodology section of the The methodology section of the research proposal usually begins with research proposal usually begins with a one-paragraph introduction that a one-paragraph introduction that restates the purpose of the study restates the purpose of the study (and/ or the research question or (and/ or the research question or questions) and lists each of the questions) and lists each of the subsections that follow.subsections that follow.

Causal-Comparative ResearchCausal-Comparative Research

The causal-comparative method is aimed The causal-comparative method is aimed at the discovery of possible causes and at the discovery of possible causes and effects of a behavior pattern or personal effects of a behavior pattern or personal characteristic by comparing subjects in characteristic by comparing subjects in whom this pattern or characteristic is whom this pattern or characteristic is present with similar subjects in which it present with similar subjects in which it is absent or present to a lesser degree.is absent or present to a lesser degree.

It is sometimes called ex post facto, It is sometimes called ex post facto, because causes are studied after they because causes are studied after they presumably have exerted their effect on presumably have exerted their effect on another variable.another variable.

The Major Advantage of Causal-The Major Advantage of Causal-Comparative Research DesignsComparative Research Designs is is that that they allow us to study cause-and-they allow us to study cause-and-effect relationships under conditions effect relationships under conditions where experimental manipulation is where experimental manipulation is difficult or impossible…the major difficult or impossible…the major disadvantage of causal-comparative disadvantage of causal-comparative research designs is that determining research designs is that determining causal pattern with an degree of causal pattern with an degree of certainty is difficult.certainty is difficult.

Steps of Causal-comparative Steps of Causal-comparative StudyStudy

Formulating and testing alternative Formulating and testing alternative hypotheses;hypotheses;

Selecting comparison groups;Selecting comparison groups;

Using appropriate statistical procedures;&Using appropriate statistical procedures;&

Properly interpreting the results obtained.Properly interpreting the results obtained.