Methodology: Writing about how we do research

Abstract

This chapter addresses the question of ‘methodology’ by treating it as a scholarly practice which forms part of the craft of research. The latter refers to the practice of writing about the ways one does the research. Because it emphasises practice and technique, rather than theory or precept, work in this tradition is often catalogued in the technical writing, or ‘how to write a PhD/dissertation’ section of the library. The chapter argues that thinking of methodology as a practice of writing about how we do our research is flexible enough to help us both plan our research, and to write a rear-facing account at different stages of the work, whether for ‘methodology’ sections, or for abstract..