Method Is Critical
Defining and describing your method is also a key element of good scholarship. It enables the reader to judge how they should read your conclusions.
A study that analyses 1000 articles is very differently to one that analyses 10 articles.
A study that analyses 1000 articles is attempting to draw representative conclusions from a large data set that, with the right statistical analysis, might come up with some generalisable conclusions.
Smaller studies can be equally important in areas like journalism studies but their claims are different. They seek to show, through case study data, some of the specifics of journalistic practice. This is indicative rather than generalisable evidence.
You must be sure that you are matching your conclusions to the type of evidence gathered.
The type and size of the data set will also influence the way you analyse it. A smaller data set will allow you to perform a detailed analysis that plays close attention to key textual elements:
- form,
- style,
- different possible interpretations,
- context etc
where as a very big data set will probably be analysed statistically through a much less detailed reading.
How to write a good methodology section in your essay
In your essay you should include a detailed description of your data and method. Elements in your method section should include:
How you collected your set of data for analysis? Be specific:
- “I identified x articles through a search in the x electronic database using the search terms x x and x.”
- “I conducted x interviews with x and x, they were open-ended interviews/questionnaire based interview/ face to face/ on the phone”
- If you used a questionnaire include it as an appendix.
How did you organize your analysis:
- Did you look for common themes, if so what typology of themes emerged?
- Were you more interested in the participant’s views or their allegiances or their rate of participation or the relationship between these three factors?
Identify precisely what you were seeking to identify from the different elements of your data and how they relate to one another. For example in the Webdiary example you might say something like:
- The analysis of the two weeks of postings allowed me to identify common themes discussed/the number of participants in the project/the political allegiances of participants etc.
- This was complimented by my interview with Kingston, which allowed me to identify her aims and perceptions about the project. In my conclusions I will analyze the relationship between these aims and the themes I have identified in the postings.
Working with your data
Use your data creatively combining a general overview with specific examples.
For example with the Webdiary example:
Start with a general overview, which would include:
- some numbers: x articles/x men/x women/average length – don’t get bogged down with the stats in small scale studies, you should just give enough information so that the reader can get an idea of the range of the data;
- some general impressions: posts focused on six key themes/mainly followed existing discussion threads/ mainly initiated new points for discussion.
Then move to a set of detailed very specific examples to flesh out your general points,
Use a range of direct quotes as examples when arguing your points don’t just use vague summaries of views expressed. If you are working with article texts or interview data it is the direct quote that will give your essay flavor and depth.
