Research methods and research methodology are the two terms that are often confused as the same. Strictly speaking, they are not so, and they show differences between them. Thus technically speaking, the methodology is the study of methods. By research method, we simply mean the research techniques or tools to be used for conducting research irrespective of whether the research belongs to physical or social sciences or any other disciplines.
A physical scientist may employ, for example, such tools as an electron microscope or a radio telescope to obtain his data. In contrast, a social scientist or a manager may use, as a technique, an opinion poll or sample survey with a mail questionnaire or conduct a personal interview to obtain his data. He might conduct a telephonic interview, group discussion, case study approach to gather data.
Nevertheless, the scientists in their disciplines employ tools and techniques that may differ widely in nature and complexity. The research methodology is a way to study the various steps that are generally adopted by a researcher in studying his research problems systematically, along with the logic, assumptions, justification, and rationale behind them. Whenever we choose a research method, we must justify why we prefer this particular method over others. The methodology seeks to answer this question.
A week later, you measured their weights again. The methodology is why you should give you a meaningful result and why you used some specific method and not another. This would include, in particular, how you have controlled for bugs, for example why you fed the rats for a week instead of a month, and why rats you thought were enough.
The differences between the research method and the research methodology can be clearly established for the following reasons: The research method is defined as the procedure or technique applied by the researcher to undertake the research.
On the other hand, the research methodology is a system of methods, scientifically used to solve the research problem. The research method is nothing more than the behavior or the tool used to select and develop the research technique. Rather, research methodology involves the science of analysis, the way in which research is properly conducted.
The research method deals with conducting experiments, tests, surveys, interviews, etc. In contrast to this, research methodology deals with learning various techniques that can be used in conducting experiments, tests, or surveys. The research method covers various research techniques.
Unlike the research methodology, which consists of a comprehensive approach aligned with the achievement of a purpose. The research method aims to find a solution to the problem. Instead, the research methodology aspires to apply appropriate procedures, with a view to finding solutions. Ask yourself if you are describing how you will collect your data method or if it is the broader strategy for your research approach methodology. With one methodology, you can apply several different methods to support or reject the research hypothesis.
For the industry professional, it will usually talk about methods. For the academic, you may be talking about both the framing methodology and the methods used to achieve your research goals. The scope of the research methodology is broader than that of the research method, since the latter is part of the former. To fully understand the research problem, the researcher must know the research methodology along with the methods. In short, the method of inquiry refers to the technique that can be adopted to explore the nature of the world around us.
On the contrary, the research methodology is the basis, which helps us to understand the determinants that influence the effectiveness of the applied methods. Sierra Bravo R. Taylor, S. Your email address will not be published.
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Please mail me the active links for the above headings. Thank you very much Deborah, I really gained a lot from your explanation of the different between methods and methodology research.
Thank you very much Deborah. Your article and your replies to comments have been helpful. Can I just make sure I got it right? I could have used surveys method. Is this example correct? Thanks again.
No doubt, you considered the options and decided that in-depth interviews would be the best method to explore graduate perceptions. I would have used this method myself — sounds like a great study! HI Deborah, I am planning to conduct research. Can you suggest what methods I could apply?
Hi Muhyas, This could be done in a number of ways. To give you one suggestion, you could do a mixed methods study involving quantitative and qualitative methods. You could begin with a quantitative method such as a questionnaire, finding out from the respondents what type of translation tools they use, how often etc.
You could then interview some of the respondents qualitative method to ask in-depth, probing questions on their experience of using the translation tool and how effective it was for them. The overall approach is inductive as you are looking for new understandings to emerge, as opposed to testing a hypothesis that presumes to know what responses participants will give.
I am preparing for my senior project and I am struggling with all the methodology content. I previously focused on the literature review and finding information that are relevant to my topic and did not give my research methodology a second though.
The article helped a lot in clearing things out for me. Thank you and God bless. My research is about the effect of a marketing strategy on the attitude of volunteers joining an NGO and how this could increase the organizational effectiveness. My empirical study will handle an international NGO and I will be reaching out to volunteers in this NGO, however I am very confused as to what research method I should use.
I am mainly thinking about a questionnaire but afraid if it is enough to study attitude. Would appreciate it if you provide me with your help. I am embarking on a PhD programme and I need a bit detailed explanation of the theoretical framework and empirical framework.
Could you please explain the difference between research process and research methodology. Writing research on tuesday and just would like to know whether it is the same or not and if not a short sentence of how it is diff. Have been struggling online to get clearifications on the two till I found this nice article. I believe from what I have read above, I will do a wonderful presentation. Most grateful. Your comment about not being able to answer your PhD supervisor when he asked you the difference between methods and methodologies gave me hope!
Can you help me to understand where an epistemological realist approach fits in to all this? Pingback: Week Seven: Lecture and Resources. Thanks Deborah for the clarification on the two. Could you please help me on this. This is an awesome resource. Thank you for your clarity. I also learned a lot from your responses to the posted questions. Hi Deborah, Thanks for this wonderful post. It clarified the concept of methodology very well for me. I am a new PhD student and aiming to develop my methodological perspective.
Would please give me some guidance on how can I develop my methodological perspective? But you need to reflect on what you are researching and why — then you can develop your methodology which is about select the research method that will best answer your research questions and meet your research objectives.
I have just started research and trying to understand the difference between methods and methodology, your post has made it very clear.
Thanks a great deal. Thanks once again. Your email address will not be published. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Share It! Reply Hi Rita, the most appropriate way to think about methods and methodology is in terms of the relationship and inter-connectedness between the two. Reply Hi Deborah, my wife and I were organizing a workshop for some postgraduate students on method and methodology and I happened to come across your post, it was most helpful.
Reply This explanation of interconnectedness between them is very helpful. Reply I think its an excellent writing. Reply Almost. Reply Thank you for your explanation, Deborah.
Reply Hi Tracey, when designing a research project one of the first tasks to be undertaken is to consider what theories underpin the phenomena that you plan to investigate. This comment in particular has been very helpful for helping me structure my exegesis. Thank you Reply deborah ua so good.. Reply Hi Deborah. Reply Succint and perfect. Reply Pingback: the accidental technologist » Blog Archive » In conversation with the Troika Part 1 Hi would you please give more examples to show the way of applying these two in research?
Reply You have helped. Reply Thank you Deborah. Thanks, Rabeya Reply Dear Deborah, Thanks, this article has clarified my thoughts around these two confusing terms.
Could you provide any book or any thing else to have deeper understanding. Could you please suggest any comment on that. Reply Thanks so much it's helpfull Reply Thanks for your post…it has helped me though i still need more examples of methods and methodology Reply Thank you very much for your clear explanation on the difference between methods and methodology.
Reply Thanks a lot. It's much helpful. Reply This is very helpful. Thanks Reply I thank you Deborah for helping me to carry out my project work. Reply You are very welcome! Reply Very helpful and timely! Reply Pingback: Very helpful. Reply Very instructive. Reply Hi Deborah, thanks this is very useful! Reply Hi Annisa, There is one methodology that is applied to the entire research project — not one for each research question. Reply Thanks Deborah. Reply Hi Deborah, Very beautiful site..
Could you give some other example as well because I saw two questions which leave me more mixed up: 1. Reply So I am an undergrad nursing student trying to explain methodology used and compare 2 studies qualitative and quantitative.
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