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PhD Thesis Methodology Chapter

A

I'm about to write the Methodology chapter for my thesis. Does anyone have any idea of how to start it? and should it be in past, present or future tense? thanks.

V

I started my with re-stating the aim of the study and a summary of what methodology has been used to achieve this aim.And then proceeded with describing and jsutifying it. In past tense.

K

PhD thesis, Methodology Chapter should be written in Past tense (preferably in passive voice).

B

Yeah, past tense (and that takes getting your mind around!). Just finished my first draft and it was a T^Y%£^%^ to get going with it -
I just couldn't figure it out at all. Then I realised that I needed to situate my research in the methodological literature (qualitative, quantitative, positivist, etc.) and it was okay pretty much after that. Agree that a good place to start is a very brief intro para linking back to earlier chapters and what's been discussed there, followed by a brief outline of what the methodology chapter includes and why. Best of luck.

T

I can empathise with the original question. I am having the most awful problems getting started. I know what I want to do ie questions etc, but I just dont know how to get started. I have been told not to use a personal statement at the start, but find these in most of the thesis i read!!!!!!! I am starting to lose the will to live now as I just seem to write and then clear it all off. Any advice???????

V

textbook: maybe this could help: first write as you like (e.g. using personal statements) with the aim just to express everything you want to say. And then when it is done, you can go ver the text again and make changes according to the recquirements. for example, firstly you can write: the aim of my research is.... firstly, i did this then I did that..Afterwards you change it to: the aim of this study is....Firstly, a survey .....was conducted etc.
This approach helps not to loose your 'voice'.

T

Thanks. I will get writing and just trying to get stuff on the page. I dont know about you, but the blank screen becomes a pretty frightening thing after a while and I just cant seem to do much at all.

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