Mistakes in Research Methodology: Common Examples & Fixes

When writing your thesis, dissertation, or academic paper, one section determines whether your research stands strong or falls apart — the research methodology. It’s where you explain how you did your study and why your methods were appropriate.

Unfortunately, many students commit serious mistakes in research methodology, often without realizing it. These errors can weaken the validity of the study, reduce grades, or cause rejection in peer-reviewed journals.

This comprehensive guide will help you identify and correct the most common mistakes in research methodology sections, with real examples, professional guidance, and external resources from trusted academic platforms.

Why the Research Methodology Section Matters

Your methodology tells readers:

• What research design you followed
• How you collected and analyzed your data
• Why your choices were logical and justified
• How reliable and ethical your process was

A clear and detailed methodology builds trust and replicability — key pillars of academic credibility.

To understand how methodology fits within a full research paper, check out this helpful overview from Elsevier’s Author Guide.

1. Unclear Research Design

Mistake:
Failing to define whether your study is qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods.

Example of a Weak Statement:

“We collected data and analyzed it.”

Better Version:

“This study employed a quantitative cross-sectional design to explore the impact of social media use on academic performance among undergraduate students.”

Why It Matters:
Your research design sets the foundation. Without specifying it, your readers can’t understand your process or judge validity.

Learn more about research design types at SAGE Research Methods.

2. Poor Sampling and Participant Selection

Mistake:
Not describing how participants were chosen or why the sample size was appropriate.

Weak Example:

“We interviewed some people from the community.”

Better Version:

“A purposive sampling method was used to select 25 participants who had direct experience with remote learning. This approach ensured relevant insights from the most experienced individuals.”

Tips for Improvement:

• State your sampling method (random, stratified, snowball, etc.)
• Mention your sample size
• Justify why this group was suitable

For detailed sampling techniques, see this overview from ResearchGate.

3. Ignoring Ethical Considerations

Mistake:
Omitting details about ethics approval, consent, or participant confidentiality.

Weak Example:

“Participants agreed to take part in the study.”

Better Version:

“Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board (Ref: 2025-012). Informed consent was collected, and all data were anonymized to ensure confidentiality.”

Why It Matters:
Research ethics protect participants and add legitimacy to your work.

Read the official APA Ethics Guidelines for Research for clear standards.

4. Inadequate Description of Data Collection Tools

Mistake:
Writing “a questionnaire was used” without explaining how it was designed, validated, or tested.

Better Version:

“A 20-item structured questionnaire was adapted from validated tools by Smith et al. (2022). A pilot test (n=15) established clarity and reliability with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.87.”

Pro Tips:

• Mention if tools were adapted or developed
• Describe how you tested reliability and validity
• Include pilot testing where applicable

Find examples of validated questionnaires at Springer Research Methodology.

5. Vague or Missing Data Analysis Description

Mistake:
Failing to specify how data were analyzed or what software/statistical methods were used.

Weak Example:

“The data were analyzed statistically.”

Better Version:

“Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS v.28, applying regression analysis to examine the relationship between sleep quality and academic performance. Qualitative data were coded thematically using NVivo following Braun & Clarke’s (2006) six-step approach.”

Why It Matters:
Transparency in analysis builds trust. Readers must be able to replicate your process.

See data analysis tutorials on Statistics Solutions for guidance on quantitative methods.

6. Listing Steps Without Justification

Mistake:
Describing what you did without explaining why you did it.

Weak Example:

“We conducted interviews with teachers.”

Better Version:

“Interviews were chosen because they allowed an in-depth exploration of teachers’ experiences, which could not be achieved through surveys alone.”

Pro Tip:
Always justify why your method suits your research question better than alternatives.

7. Overuse of Jargon Without Explanation

Mistake:
Using technical terms without context or definition.

Weak Example:

“A phenomenological approach was used.”

Better Version:

“A phenomenological approach was applied to understand participants’ lived experiences with online learning. This approach focuses on how individuals perceive and make sense of their experiences.”

Use Grammarly’s Clarity Checker to identify complex phrases and simplify your writing.

8. Methodology Not Aligned with Research Objectives

Mistake:
Choosing methods that don’t match your stated goals or research questions.

Example:
If your question is “How does online learning affect student motivation?”, but your sample only includes teachers, your methodology is misaligned.

Fix:
Ensure that every element — participants, data collection tools, and analysis — directly addresses your research questions.

9. Skipping Limitations

Mistake:
Pretending your methodology is perfect. Every method has limits.

Better Version:

“While interviews provided valuable insights, they may not fully represent all demographics. Future research should include a larger sample.”

10. No Visual Aids

Visuals make your methodology easy to follow. Include:

• Flowcharts showing your research process
• Tables summarizing participant demographics
• Diagrams linking research questions to data collection methods

Final Thoughts

Avoiding these mistakes in research methodology will instantly improve the credibility and readability of your academic work. Always remember to:

• Define your research design
• Justify your methods
• Respect ethical standards
• Explain your tools and analysis
• Align methods with objectives

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