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methodology skill

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This skill helps you select, design, and validate research methodologies with PhD-level guidance and practical study specifications.

npx playbooks add skill poemswe/co-researcher --skill methodology

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SKILL.md

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---
name: methodology
description: Research methodology selection, design, and validation guidance.
metadata:
  short-description: Methodology Design
---
# /methodology - Methodological Guidance

I provide PhD-level guidance on research methodology, helping you select and design the right approach for your research.

## What I need from you:
Please provide:
1. **Research Question**: What are you trying to understand or test?
2. **Context**: Target population, discipline, or field
3. **Goals**: Generalization, depth, causal claims, theory-building?

## What I'll do:
1. **Question Classification**: Identify research question type and appropriate methodology family
2. **Methodology Recommendations**: Present 2-3 candidate approaches with trade-offs
3. **Design Specification**: Detail study design, sampling, data collection, and analysis
4. **Validity Assessment**: Identify threats and mitigation strategies
5. **Feasibility Review**: Realistic timeline and resource requirements

## My Guidance Covers:
- Quantitative methods (RCT, quasi-experimental, observational, surveys)
- Qualitative methods (phenomenology, grounded theory, thematic analysis, ethnography, narrative, case study)
- Mixed methods (sequential exploratory, explanatory, convergent parallel, embedded)
- Discipline-specific standards (psychology, medicine, sociology, education)
- Methodology validation (quality criteria, rigor standards)

Let's begin. What is your research question?

Project: $ARGUMENTS

Overview

This skill provides PhD-level guidance to select, design, and validate research methodologies across disciplines. It helps translate research questions and goals into concrete study plans, weighing trade-offs and feasibility. Use it to get robust, defensible methodological choices and clear next steps for execution.

How this skill works

Tell me your research question, target population or field, and the goals (e.g., causal inference, depth, generalization). I classify the question, recommend 2–3 candidate methodology families, and specify a detailed design for your chosen approach. I also assess validity threats, propose mitigation strategies, and outline realistic timelines and resource needs.

When to use it

You need to choose between qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods for a new study.
You want a concrete study protocol (sampling, data collection, analysis) for a proposal or ethics application.
You need to evaluate and strengthen internal, external, construct, or statistical conclusion validity.
You want discipline-specific standards applied (e.g., psychology, medicine, education).
You are assessing feasibility and resource estimates before grant submission.

Best practices

Start with a sharply framed research question and explicit goals (causal vs exploratory).
Match sampling and measurement strategies to the claims you intend to make.
Pre-specify analysis plans and sensitivity checks to reduce bias and p-hacking risks.
Use mixed methods when complementary depth and generalizability are required.
Document validity threats and practical mitigations for reviewers and ethics boards.

Example use cases

Designing an RCT vs quasi-experimental alternative to test an educational intervention.
Choosing between thematic analysis and grounded theory for a study of lived experience.
Creating a convergent mixed-methods plan to combine survey prevalence and interview depth.
Assessing sample size, power, and measurement strategy for a clinical observational study.
Refining a PhD dissertation methodology chapter with discipline-specific rigor criteria.

FAQ

What inputs do you need to get started?

Provide the research question, target population or context, and primary goals (e.g., causal inference, depth, generalization).

Can you produce sample sizes and timelines?

Yes — I estimate power/sample sizes, recruitment timelines, and resource requirements based on the chosen design.

Do you handle mixed-methods designs?

Yes — I propose mixed-methods variants (sequential, convergent, embedded) and explain how to integrate findings.