In every PhD, whatever be the discipline, the requirement is to explain the methodological approach. It is important and so an exclusive chapter is dedicated to it. In some disciplines, it is also included in the introductory chapters or maybe just a separate section. Whatever be the structure, there has to be a sound and realistic justification provided by the researcher for the methodology adopted for research? To be able to do this, primarily, it is important to understand the concept of methodology.
Primarily, a lot of researchers at their beginning stages, confuse between methodology and methods. It had to be known and understood that they are not synonyms. Methods are nothing more than the techniques and processes that the researcher adopts in conducting his research while methodology is a discipline that applies or puts these methods into use. The tools for carrying out the research are supplied by the methods and the justification comes from the methodology. A lot of researchers do not use or follow this distinction, but it surely helps to appreciate the difference so that you can better understand the basis upon which the practical research is carried out.
For instance, a research scholar in law may want to use a comparative approach in his PhD and that would be the methodology. It will become necessary and imperative to explain what the key components of the comparative approach are and the reason because of which you think its application in your research is justified. Your research could be text based or non-text based, which means questionnaires or theoretical explanations but they need to be explained properly as they hold a particular importance in the science of PhD.
In deciding the methodology of PhD, the role of the supervisor is also very significant as the supervisor can tell the best way to explain it. Looking at previously done work can also guide on how to handle the methodology. Sometimes scholars do not have the expertise and technical knowledge to adopt the right methods or justify it through methodology. In that case, taking expert advice and opinion is also helpful or even a short course in research methodology can be of great help and one should never shy away from it, rather a quick brush up on methodology is always advisable and recommended so that in the first go only, the adopted methodology is just and appropriate for the need of the research.
Methodology is actually the crux of the research. It is very necessary to understand the base of research so that you know you are on right track. After you know the research gap, next step should be to develop the research design. I advise my students on which approach and method will be suitable for their study.