What are the Key Differences between Methods
and Methodology?
Research Method
Research method means the techniques or tools used for
conducting research irrespective of whether the research
belongs to physical or social sciences or other disciplines.
Researchers implement systematic methods to conduct a
research. They define the research topic to establish a deeper
and clearer understanding in the methods section.
Furthermore, methods consist of all techniques, strategies, and
tools employed by a researcher to complete the experiment
and find solution to the research problem.
Research Method
The methods include three broad groups.
•The first group includes methods dealing with the collection and
description of data
•The second group consists of techniques used for establishing a statistical
relationship between variables
•The third group deals with methods used to evaluate the reliability, validity,
and accuracy of the results discerned by the data.
Research Methodology
The research methodology is a way to study the various steps
generally adopted by a researcher in systematically studying his
research problems, 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.
Thus, when we speak of research methodology, we not only
talk of research methods but also keep the logic and
justification behind the method we use in the context of our
research undertaking.
However, methodology is a systematic and theoretical
approach to collect and evaluate data throughout the research
process. It allows researchers to validate a study’s rigor to
acquire new information. The purpose of research
methodology is to prove the credibility, validity, and reliability
of a chosen research method.
Research Methodology
A researcher’s methodology aims at answering such questions as:
•Why was this particular group of people interviewed and not the
other groups?
•How has been the research problem defined?
•How many individuals provided the answers on which the
researcher’s conclusions were based?
•Why were these particular techniques used to analyze data?
•In what way and why has the research hypothesis been formulated?
•What evidence was used to determine whether or not to reject the
stated hypothesis?
Difference between Research Method and Research Methodology
Suppose the subject into which you conduct research is a scientific subject or topic. In
that case, the research methods include experiments, tests, the study of many other
results of different experiments performed earlier about the topic or the subject, and
the like.
On the other hand, research methodology about the scientific topic involves the
techniques regarding how to conduct the research, the justification of the use of
particular research tools, advanced techniques that can be used in performing the
experiments, and the like.
A method is what you did. It is a simple description. You selected, for example, 100
rats and measured their weights. You fed some rats and some not.
A week later, you measured their weights again.
The methodology is why that should give you a meaningful result and why
you used some specified method and not some other one.
This would, in particular, include how you have controlled for errors, e.g.,
why you fed the rats for a week rather than a month and why 100 rats you
thought were enough.
The table below summarizes the primary differences between the research
methods and methodology.
Research Method Research Methodology
The research method seeks to answer: The research methodology seeks to answer;
What did the researcher use to complete his research? How did the researcher complete his study?
Research methods are the techniques and tools by Research methodology explains and justifies the
which you research a subject or a topic. techniques and tools by which you may proceed with
your research.
Research methods involve conducting experiments, Research methodology involves learning various
tests, surveys, and the like utilizing the knowledge and techniques to conduct research and acquiring
skills learned through research methodology. knowledge to perform tests, experiments, surveys, and
critical analyses.
The research method aims at finding solutions to Research methodology ensures the employment of the
research problems. correct procedures to solve the problems.
Research methods are the end of any scientific or non- Research methodology paves the way to choosing
scientific research. appropriate research methods and thus is the
beginning of any research.
In a research context, a (research) paradigm
is an underlying assumption and the
intellectual structure upon which research
and development in a field of inquiry are
based.
Denzin and Lincoln (1994) state that the
underlying beliefs that define a particular research
paradigm may be summarized by the responses
given to three fundamental questions:
•Ontological question: What is the form and
nature of reality?
•Epistemological question: What is the
fundamental belief about knowledge (i.e., what can
be known)? Epistemology is the branch of
philosophy that studies the nature of knowledge
and the process by which knowledge is acquired
and validated.
•Methodological question: How do we know or
gain knowledge of the world?
How to Write Methods and Methodology Section of a Research Paper?
Most researchers are commonly asked to re-write the methods and methodology
section as there exists an ambiguity in the understanding of these elements. One
should understand that incorrectness in these sections may lead to repercussions
which are uncalled for. A clear knowledge of methods and methodologies employed in
research will also make your process of reviewing and understanding other literature
easier. A robust method and methodology section is a point of validation for authentic
research.
Methods
While writing the methods section you must remember the following:
•Authors must duly cite all sources that helped them in selecting the methods for the
research study. Furthermore, it should also include parameters of past studies must to
indicate relevance with the current study.
•It is mandatory to cite the sources of all participants of the study. The details of
participants such as geographical location, age, sex, their initial conditions, etc. must
be mentioned in the methods section.
•The methods section must also include the inclusion and exclusion criteria of
subjects.
•Description of division of chosen group and their characteristics is also an element of
the methods section.
•The methods section must also include the study design. Necessary preparations,
software used, and instruments must be explained here.
Methodology
A well-written methodology section must include
the following:
•An introduction and explanation of reasons for
the systematic methodological approach
(qualitative, quantitative, or mixed method) used
throughout the research process.
•The methodology section must indicate the
applicability, validity, and credibility of all methods
applied in the research.
•It must clearly describe specific data collation
methods and provide detailed explanation of data
analysis.
•Lastly, the methodology section must
justify rationale for chosen research methods and
procedures.
