Method
Based on the research question, this section explicitly states how data from physical world can authoritatively answer that question. Whether one uses qualitative or quantitative methods, the goal is to get an answer that comes from the world, not the researcher's bias. Bias creates "self-fulfilling prophecies". It is not always possible to avoid bias, but it should always be at least recognized, lest we trick our-selves into believing falsehoods, like that the earth is flat. Only if your method is good is the answer to your research question valid. The method section may include any or all of the following
New Method Theory: Is any new technique or methodology described, if only briefly?
Method Choice: Is the method chosen appropriate for the research question?
Pilot Study: Were any new methods or tools piloted or trialed and then improved accordingly?
Research Design: Is the logic of how the results will validly answer the research question explicitly given?
Reduce Bias: Does the research reduce bias where possible?
Control Group: Was a randomly allocated control group used if feasible?
Right Measures: How were the constructs actually measured or investigated?
Validity: Does the information gathered really represent what it purports to represent?
Reliability: Will repeating the research give much the same results?
Unit of Research: Are the units of the research clear?
Procedure: Is the actual information gathering procedure described, ideally step by step?
Task: Is the subject task, and any instructions involved, described?
Question Design: Are any questions asked of subjects understandable, unambiguous, unbiased, answerable and inoffensive?
Response Scale: Are any response scales easy to use, unbiased, exhaustive and sensitive?
Missing Values: How were missing value non-responses recorded?
Sample Generalizability: Are sample results argued to generalize to the population?
Sample Size: Is the sample is big enough for the question(s) asked of it?
Replicability: Is the method described well enough that another researcher can repeat it?
Download printable checklist: RRCheckWriting-3.pdf
