The methodological design of research involves a series of key decisions made to build an appropriate strategy to explore, understand, and analyze the research problem. These methodological decisions aim to ensure the internal coherence of the study, making sure that the chosen methods are the most suitable for accessing, collecting, and analyzing data to engage with the assumed or identified relationships in the research problem.

Foundations of Methodological Decisions

These decisions must be well-reasoned and based on a combination of theoretical assumptions (which guide what is intended to be known and how the problem is conceptualized) and procedural assumptions (which determine how to proceed in order to obtain and analyze information). Thus, methodological design is not merely a technical aspect but responds to a critical and reasoned reflection on the study’s objectives and approach.

Fundamental Components of Methodological Design

In the methodological section of a research study, the following aspects are generally defined:

1. Research Paradigm: Refers to the epistemological framework guiding the entire study, i.e., the perspective on the nature of knowledge and how it can be obtained. Common paradigms include the positivist/post-positivist, interpretive, critical, postmodern, and Indigenous paradigms. The choice of paradigm defines how the researcher positions themselves in relation to their study object and what type of evidence is considered valid.
2. Methodological Approach: Refers to the general strategy that guides the research, whether qualitative, quantitative, or mixed. Each approach has its own techniques, validity criteria, and forms of analysis. The choice of methodological approach should align with the research objectives and the nature of the problem.
3. Techniques and Instruments: Specific tools for data collection are selected, such as interviews, surveys, focus groups, observation, document analysis, among others. The choice of techniques depends on the methodological approach and the type of data required for the study.
4. Sample: Defines the group or phenomenon being studied, i.e., who or what will be investigated. The selection of the sample can be intentional, probabilistic, or theoretical, depending on the research objectives and the chosen methodological approach.
5. Data Analysis: Defines how the collected data will be handled. In qualitative research, for instance, one might opt for content analysis, grounded theory, or discourse analysis. In quantitative research, descriptive or inferential statistical analysis could be used. In mixed approaches, both types of analysis are articulated.

Coherence with Context and Theoretical Framework

A key aspect is that all methodological decisions must be consistent with the theoretical framework and, above all, with the researched context. This means that the chosen strategies and tools should be appropriate for the reality and characteristics of the context so that the researcher can capture the complexity of the phenomenon being studied. Ensuring adequacy to the context guarantees that the interpretations and conclusions of the research are relevant and meaningful for the people or situations involved.

Justification and Argumentation of Decisions

Each of these methodological decisions must be adequately justified to explain why a particular strategy or approach was chosen and how these choices allow the researcher to access the knowledge of the problem in a rigorous way. This includes not only technical reasoning but also theoretical and ethical considerations, taking into account the impact of the decisions on the participants and the possible outcomes of the research.

The methodological design of a research study is a reflective and well-reasoned process in which each methodological decision aims to ensure the validity and relevance of the results in coherence with the study’s objectives, theoretical framework, and context. This comprehensive and well-reasoned approach allows the research to have a solid, coherent, and meaningful foundation to contribute to the knowledge and understanding of the researched problem.

In this chapter, we will go step by step, reflecting on all these elements.