In its most common sense, methodology is the study of research methods. However, the term can also refer to the methods themselves or to the philosophical discussion of associated background assumptions. A method is a structured procedure for bringing about a certain goal, like acquiring knowledge or verifying knowledge claims. This normally involves various steps, like choosing a sample, collecting data from this sample, and interpreting the data. The study of methods concerns a detailed description and analysis of these processes. It includes evaluative aspects by comparing different methods. This way, it is assessed what advantages and disadvantages they have and for what research goals they may be used. These descriptions and evaluations depend on philosophical background assumptions. Examples are how to conceptualize the studied phenomena and what constitutes evidence for or against them. When understood in the widest sense, methodology also includes the discussion of these more abstract issues.
Methodologies are traditionally divided into quantitative and qualitative research. Quantitative research is the main methodology of the natural sciences. It uses precise numerical measurements. Its goal is usually to find universal laws used to make predictions about future events. The dominant methodology in the natural sciences is called the scientific method. It includes steps like observation and the formulation of a hypothesis. Further steps are to test the hypothesis using an experiment, to compare the measurements to the expected results, and to publish the findings.
Qualitative research is more characteristic of the social sciences and gives less prominence to exact numerical measurements. It aims more at an in-depth understanding of the meaning of the studied phenomena and less at universal and predictive laws. Common methods found in the social sciences are surveys, interviews, focus groups, and the nominal group technique. They differ from each other concerning their sample size, the types of questions asked, and the general setting. In recent decades, many social scientists have started using mixed-methods research, which combines quantitative and qualitative methodologies.
Many discussions in methodology concern the question of whether the quantitative approach is superior, especially whether it is adequate when applied to the social domain. A few theorists reject methodology as a discipline in general. For example, some argue that it is useless since methods should be used rather than studied. Others hold that it is harmful because it restricts the freedom and creativity of researchers. Methodologists often respond to these objections by claiming that a good methodology helps researchers arrive at reliable theories in an efficient way. The choice of method often matters since the same factual material can lead to different conclusions depending on one's method. Interest in methodology has risen in the 20th century due to the increased importance of interdisciplinary work and the obstacles hindering efficient cooperation.
In its most common sense, methodology is the study of research methods. However, the term can also refer to the methods themselves or to the philosophical...
Political methodology is a subfield of political science that studies the quantitative and qualitative methods used to study politics. Quantitative methods...
Survey methodology is "the study of survey methods". As a field of applied statistics concentrating on human-research surveys, survey methodology studies...
In its most common sense, philosophical methodology is the field of inquiry studying the methods used to do philosophy. But the term can also refer to...
In praxeology, methodological dualism is an epistemological position which states that it is necessary ─ based on our current state of knowledge and understanding...
steps or sub-processes to improve design and/or product management. The methodology may include the pre-definition of specific deliverables and artifacts...
Art methodology refers to a studied and constantly reassessed, questioned method within the arts, as opposed to a method merely applied (without thought)...
Economic methodology is the study of methods, especially the scientific method, in relation to economics, including principles underlying economic reasoning...
In the social sciences, methodological individualism is a framework that describes social phenomena as a consequence of subjective personal motivations...
Soft systems methodology (SSM) is an organised way of thinking[clarification needed] that's applicable to problematic social situations and in the management...
Q methodology is a research method used in psychology and in social sciences to study people's "subjectivity"—that is, their viewpoint. Q was developed...
Decolonizing Methodologies: Research and Indigenous Peoples is a book by New Zealand academic Linda Tuhiwai Smith. Originally published in 1999, Decolonizing...
for making decisions in the face of uncertainty based on statistical methodology. The use of modern computers has expedited large-scale statistical computations...
In statistics, response surface methodology (RSM) explores the relationships between several explanatory variables and one or more response variables...
serve as Six Sigma experts. Each Six Sigma project follows a defined methodology and has specific value targets, such as reducing pollution or increasing...
Object process methodology (OPM) is a conceptual modeling language and methodology for capturing knowledge and designing systems, specified as ISO/PAS...
The Universal Verification Methodology (UVM) is a standardized methodology for verifying integrated circuit designs. UVM is derived mainly from the OVM...
component of the five angles of analysis fostered by the data percolation methodology, which also includes qualitative methods, reviews of the literature (including...
same order. The history of scientific method considers changes in the methodology of scientific inquiry, as distinct from the history of science itself...
processing. Around the 1970s/1980s the term information engineering methodology (IEM) was created to describe database design and the use of software...
analysis software (CAQDAS) Hermeneutics – Theory and methodology of text interpretation Methodological dualism – Epistemological position in praxeology Participatory...
earlier articles by the author with as its lead an original essay "The Methodology of Positive Economics." This essay posits Friedman's famous, but controversial...
system selection methodology" is a formal process for selecting an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. Existing methodologies include: Kuiper's...
Cartesian doubt is a form of methodological skepticism associated with the writings and methodology of René Descartes (March 31, 1596–February 11, 1650)...
The methodology of econometrics is the study of the range of differing approaches to undertaking econometric analysis. The econometric approaches can...
A lightweight methodology is a software development method that has only a few rules and practices, or only ones that are easy to follow. In contrast...