This is an outside chance and Im sorry to ask but I really hope you can help me. Ive got a research proposal to write for a class on research methods, but my professor is super unhelpful in explaining the steps and Im getting so confused in how to do it. He tells me my methodology is wrong, but when I ask for help he just says I need to work it out myself because thats the assignment
I dont know if this is your specialization or not but the deadline is approaching. I dont want you to do it for me obviously but how do I go about this? Im mad stressed and Im stuck. How do you write a good methodology? Is there a system everyone else knows but me?
Well, first of all, your professor is a shit teacher, so jot that down.
Second of all, I'm so sorry you're so stressed. Even through this ask I can FEEL your mental state trying to dissolve. But, I promise you can do this, Anon. You won't enjoy it; but, that's not the same thing. You can do it.
Third of all, there's no universal system; BUT, good news! There's an Elanor System. And I'm about to teach it to you. Take my hand. We've got this.
Step 1 - the Research Questions
Start here!
Your research questions should be formatted as literal questions, and this is what your study wants to answer. "How many fruit pastilles does it take to choke a kestrel?" "Do dragons breathe hotter fire in the day than the night?" "Are oak trees more effective than beeches at stabilising Welsh soils?"
(One, no, and yes)
Have at least one question, and an absolute maximum of three. Crucially, these questions need to be specific. For example:
- "What's the link between coastal development and sand lizard conservation?" - too broad. How are we defining "conservation"? How can you measure it?
- "Are sand lizard populations higher in undeveloped areas than developed areas?" - much better. Directly actionable (you just count them), easily defined (has the coastal site been built on or not)
For the sake of this tutorial, I shall use that last one.
Step 2 - Anticipate the Data
So, put simply, what data/results would answer this question?
I'm not talking the actual data yet, obviously - you need to carry out the research to get that! But, in broad terms, what sort of thing is needed for you to consider that question answered?
Take a look at our example - Are sand lizard populations higher in undeveloped areas than developed areas?
To answer this, I need:
- Some developed (i.e. built up) sites
- Some undeveloped (i.e. semi-natural) sites
- A head count of the sand lizards in each
Then, sketch out for yourself what this data might look like in a table, graph, map, etc. Whatever format is needed to display the data. Here's our lizards:
The numbers are totally made up, of course. It's not about them. They aren't part of this experience. The TYPE of data, on the other hand, is; because this now leads perfectly into the next step:
Step 3 - the Protocol
This is no longer a broad, vague and terrifying spectre. This is now specific and targeted. Your protocol now is not about testing for "sand lizard conservation". It's about getting the actual numbers to plug into that graph above.
So, I now know I need to do a census of sand lizards in a selection of developed/undeveloped sites. This is the central plank of my methodology.
Firstly: how many sites? Maybe five of each type? How am I defining "developed" and "undeveloped"? What other variables might affect this, e.g. sand dune height/stability, visitation numbers, predator numbers, etc. A little bit of research will let me decide these points, and then I just need to select the sites locally. Do they have public access? Maybe logistics mean this comes down to three of each type.
Secondly, what are the best census techniques for sand lizards? Again, a bit of research will tell me this. Nothing wrong with finding a published paper that's already looked at this, and copying their methodology - it's peer-reviewed, and replicability is important in science.
Thirdly, consider the following:
- Is your protocol written out clearly in an easy-to-follow way? Think of baking recipes. Could a third party replicate your work based on your description?
- Variables. I've mentioned some already, but what else? An obvious answer here is weather - will that affect sand lizard numbers between sites? What about time of day/year?
- Replicability: if you or anyone else wanted to do the same study in five years' time, or on a different selection of sites, etc, could they? They should be able to.
- Practicality: are you physically capable of the tasks? Do you have the necessary equipment? Etc
But, fundamentally, your protocol should be able to get you the data you identified in step 2. If instead my plan here was just to count lizards on a single beach, that would be a fail - there's no site comparison. If instead I decided to survey the dune vegetation in both, that might well provide good habitat insights, but it's not getting me the abundance data I need to make that graph.
Step 4 - Timing
We have a protocol! So now: the logistics
Can your plans be done in the time you have available?
Maybe I only have three weeks to count my lizards. If so, depending on the weather, that may well be too little time for a full ten sites. Especially if each site requires more than one visit. If so, I need to amend my plans.
My recommendation for this step:
- Work out how much time you have available
- List the individual jobs needed (e.g. walk 100m transect 5 times)
- Estimate how long each job will take, using whatever unit is appropriate (e.g. days)
- Evaluate - is there enough time?
Gantt charts are great for this, and you can find free online Gantt chart makers. They also look good in the research proposal
******
And that, in a nutshell, is it! There's obviously more depth you can add in various ways, but that's your basic protocol construction. The value of a protocol is how well it can answer its research questions - I imagine this is where you're going wrong atm, and currently you're being too broad. So, start with the questions, decide on the needed data, work out the steps needed to get that data, assess logistics.
If you're still struggling, hmu, but hopefully this helps
🛑 Stop Working for Exposure (Mathematically)
I'm an artist and medical student, and I use art to help me pay some bills.
I built a free, helpful tool because to help prevent other talented creatives from undercharging, as I really see this a lot online.
It's a calculator with a built in reality check
- Input your survival costs and expenses
- True billable hours
- Get the rate you actually need to charge to hit a 20% (or whatever you choose) profit margin.
It generates the rate, a template negotiation email + final invoice.
Plan to keep this tool free, ad-free, and open to everyone.
If the "Thriving Rate" calculation empowers you to double your quote on your next job, please consider hitting the "Buy me a coffee"button. It keeps the server running and the code flowing <3
Thank you for all who tried/spread awareness of the tool and also to people who tipped, truly touched by the support and it means the world! <3
this best thing about this is the meme format conditions you to expect a follow up statement and it’s absence contributes to a sense of stillness, simulating the experience of just sitting in your truck
a harmonica is like a fancy kazoo and I say this with all of the love and admiration in my heart because I think the kazoo is the perfect instrument. they should make Professional Quality Kazoos.
I have good news! (Or perhaps just chaotic news) They absolutely do make professional quality kazoos:
Can I perhaps also introduce you to the kazoo trombone?
I love how both of these are still under $30. incredible work everyone
09/04/2026 • every time @softinvasions writes a villanelle about how sonnets suck i write another suckful sonnet*. metrical malpractice!
*sonnets do not even have to have 14 lines if you are pure of heart and sonnetpilled enough
the fear mongering around transmasculine people who sing going on testosterone genuinely pisses me off. yes, you will be able to sing. no, you won't lose your voice. no, low voices aren't ugly (where are people even getting this shit???). no, higher voices aren't prettier. sing through the changes (don't push anything). hydrate. h y d r a t e. please don't stop singing, your voice will sound amazing.
So I'm one of those people who had complications with my voice breaking. It felt "stuck" for about a year and then dropped suddenly and painfully. I was not able to sing through the changes.
I can sing now though.
Even if you have to stop for a bit, you'll be fine. Get back into it when you can, look up some voice training exercises and see if they help, and you will be able to sing again.
good art doesnt exist. you can't make it.
you're free now.
a moment of silence for my roommate who has to endure me doing linguistics homework. out loud. making sounds with parts of my mouth and throat I didn’t even realise I could use to make sounds. repeatedly and with passion
i think the moment of silence needs to come directly from you on this one
🛑 Stop Working for Exposure (Mathematically)
I'm an artist and medical student, and I use art to help me pay some bills.
I built a free, helpful tool because to help prevent other talented creatives from undercharging, as I really see this a lot online.
It's a calculator with a built in reality check
- Input your survival costs and expenses
- True billable hours
- Get the rate you actually need to charge to hit a 20% (or whatever you choose) profit margin.
It generates the rate, a template negotiation email + final invoice.
Plan to keep this tool free, ad-free, and open to everyone.
If the "Thriving Rate" calculation empowers you to double your quote on your next job, please consider hitting the "Buy me a coffee"button. It keeps the server running and the code flowing <3
Thank you for all who tried/spread awareness of the tool and also to people who tipped, truly touched by the support and it means the world! <3
does this sentence make sense :
Okay so my dumbass wife meant the UN when she insisted this sentence made perfect sense. So, take two, does this sentence make sense
No I’m not attracted to you. Quit your evil putting your finger under my chin to make me look up at you. I know I’m your nemesis and all but we really need to set some boundaries when you’ve got me tied up like this.
No look I get it. You’ve got your evil plan, you’ve gotta get me out of the way but you also want to see me suffer as I watch the world burn, I know. But like, I’m not into this. Sexually or otherwise. Wait, you thought I was doing this because I liked you? I’m trying to stop you from using a death laser. No I don’t think death lasers are sexy what on earth are you talking about
Wait. That’s why you dress like that? I thought that armor was impractical. No I don’t find our relationship to be homoerotic I find it to be tedious. Look, man. We all keep trying to get you into therapy. No I’m not kink shaming you I’m saying you’ve completely misinterpreted this relationship. I actually do think you should answer for your war crimes. Yes, really. No you’re the one not listening to me in this situation. Yes that is the alarm the others will have cut all your wires and called in the fbi by now.
What do you mean you thought we had something special? I have other enemies. You’re not the only one. No I’m not doing kinky things with them either I blow up their nefarious devices. Speaking of which, you might want to move like… ten feet to your right.
No, enemies to enemies. And then still enemies.
Cannot stress enough how lovers will never be part of this equation even a little bit
The henchmen in the tags who have been assuring the villain since the beginning that “of course he likes you back, why else would he keep coming to destroy your death lasers”
The henchmen have been reading too many romance novels.
Awfully defensive are we? I think the henchmen are onto something.
You know I didn’t intend for this character I made up to be aromantic but this whole post has turned into being arospec at a family reunion simulator
#god this is. exactly how this site works im not surprised by this at all :T#no matter how many times a character says theyre not into someone (or anyone!) the more people think its romantic#imo you shouldnt have to explain youre aro (you dont even have to be aro!!) to get people to believe you with this stuff#trying not to let this post get me too angry#but as an aro this is. disgusting lolol
Links below!
