Write the methodology chapter after completing your literature review and before presenting results, since it should reflect research decisions already made and be written in the past tense to describe what you actually did.
Length varies by level: an undergraduate methodology chapter is typically 1,500 to 2,500 words, while a master’s or PhD chapter often runs to 3,000 to 6,000 words, depending on your department’s specific requirements and guidelines.
In practice, many students draft a rough methodology plan early, alongside their proposal, then revise it fully once data collection is complete and the literature review has clarified exactly which methods best answer the research questions.
A strong methodology chapter — often the longest, most detailed part of a dissertation — justifies your design, sample, and analysis approach in enough detail that another researcher could replicate the study.
If you are unsure how to justify your chosen methods, our dissertation writing service can offer expert guidance or a model methodology chapter tailored to your specific research approach and department.


