3. Data and methods (normally, <1 page)

This section gets to the specifics of how you aim to answer your question through your research. It must show competence in methodological issues. If you realize when reading this page that you do not know what I am talking about, you have some learning to do.

1. Hypothetico-deductive research

If you plan experiments or gathering quantitative data, you must describe your research design. How many experiments you plan; what are your independent, dependent, control and intervening variables; how many people you study; how you ramdomize them; what is your null hypothesis and also alternative hypotheses; what kinds of laboratory procedures you follow; which methods of analysis you use (typically ANOVA, ANCOVA, but usually even t-tests will do), and so forth.

In statistical studies, you need to tell where you get your data - secondary sources, or questionnnaires -; what are their main sources of errors; which kind of model you aim to test (again, you need to specify independent, dependent, and so forth variables); which method you use (typically some form or regression analysis or logistical regression); sample size; sample selection; analysis of bias; etc.

2. Interpretive research

If you build on some interpretive tradition, description has to be extensive as well. You have to tell: which methods are you going to use and how (for example, participant observation for how long, where, and when); how you conrol for errors and biases; how you gather and process data; how you analyze it; how you plan for validity and reliability, including generalization; and how you tackle ethical problems. You also need to tell how you plan to relate you interpretation to previous literature.

3. Constructive research

When doing constructive research, this section needs to specify your construct; how you aim to embed into your research; how you gather data; analyze it; what is your "test" or criteria for deciding whether the construct actually does what you indented; etc.

What is particularly important it to decide which scientific tradition you want to follow when doing constructive work. You can experiment (hypothetico-deductive model), but can also be interpretive.