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Methodology Checklist

Our reliable methodology checklist, built from an examiner's view. Free to use. Instant access.

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What this checklist covers

A run through the decisions your methodology chapter has to make and defend, the same seven sections refined by coaching 10,000+ students through theirs:

Alignment and approach: paradigm and method fit your questions.
Methodological choices: design, sampling, collection, analysis.
Justifications and credibility: defended, valid and reliable.
Pilot study: what it changed, or why you skipped it.
Acknowledging limitations: the shortcomings, and the ethics.
Compliance and quality control: word count, formatting, citations.
Final review: the last pass, including your supervisor’s input.

The checklist can be copied to your Google Drive or downloaded as a fully editable document, so you can tick items off as you go.

Frequently asked questions

Does it name examples of research paradigms?

Yes, positivism and interpretivism, under Alignment and Approach. The checklist asks you to identify and explain your own paradigm, not necessarily pick from those two.

What if I didn’t run a pilot study?

That’s accounted for directly. If you skipped one, the item asks you to explain why, and how you managed any issues a pilot might otherwise have caught.

Does qualitative research get different criteria?

Yes, in one place: validity and reliability for quantitative research, or trustworthiness and credibility for qualitative, matching each tradition’s own vocabulary.

Does it list examples of data collection methods?

Yes: interviews, surveys, observations and secondary data analysis. You describe whichever ones you actually used, not all four.

Does it ask about ethics approval?

Yes, whether you’ve discussed ethical considerations and how they were addressed, naming informed consent, confidentiality and ethical approval as examples.

What level of study is this checklist meant for?

It’s written for the methodology chapter at honors, master’s or doctoral level. Your own university’s assessment criteria still take priority where they differ.

What format is the checklist?

It’s a Google Doc. Make a copy to your own Drive to edit it, or download it as a fully editable file if you’d rather work offline.

Can I share this checklist with my friends/colleagues?

Yes, you’re welcome to share it in its original format (no editing allowed). If you post about it on your blog or social media, please reference this page as your source.