Methodology: Why It Matters

We have established that a clear and precise definition of the construct of cyberbullying is a necessary condition for the pursuit of rigorous research. However, a definition alone is not a sufficient guarantee of high quality research; measures and methods must also be scientifically sound. Entwistle, Tritter, and Calnan (2002) expressed the importance of methodology this way: methodological problems compromise the quality and impact of research. The robustness of the methods used is an important determinant of the quality of research, and the perceived robustness of the methods used are [ sic ] important determinants of its credibility. (p. 233) Applying their observation to cyberbullying research, we must be mindful that our work must be credible to our audience, which includes not only scholars but the larger community (both practitioners and the public at large) that is seeking answers to questions about this problem and how to curtail it. This chapter makes the case for the importance of methodological considerations, which are addressed in the remaining chapters in this section.