Imagine a golden thread that runs through your thesis, from start to finish. It weaves your argument through theory and literature, linking your research questions, your conceptual framework, your methodology and analytic framework, and finally, your skilful answers to the research questions. This is the coveted golden thread of your thesis.
Let’s think more about this golden thread. Inspect it closely. You’ll see that it has two strands that are twisted together. The twisted strands are what give the thread its strength.
Now think of your thesis and its golden thread. There’s the one strand that you’ve probably devoted many hours to – the theory and literature you’ve analysed, synthesised, and critiqued, painstakingly and beautifully. This strand makes your thesis scholarly.
But what about the other strand? You may have overlooked the other strand of the thread. This is the analytic strand, the methodology, your research approach, your design and measurement – be it qualitative, quantitative or mixed.
The analytic strand needs to be twisted together with the theoretical or conceptual strand to make that strong golden thread.
You cannot frame your research questions using the theoretical strand unless you can conceptualise how you’ll go about answering them using the analytic strand, and vice versa.
So, think about your research methodology early on, while you’re reading all that theory, way before you get to Chapters 3 and 4, and you’ll be on your way to tying up your thesis.
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