The word “methodology” has a bit more gravitas than “method” doesn’t it. Sounds more sciency. Packs more punch in a research document.
Well, that’s sort of true, if you don’t mind completely misusing the term. “Method” and “Methodology” mean completely different things. This is what dictionary.com has to say about the matter:
“[…] In recent years, however, methodology has been increasingly used as a pretentious substitute for method in scientific and technical contexts, as in ‘The oil company has not yet decided on a methodology for restoring the beaches’. People may have taken to this practice by influence of the adjective methodological to mean ‘pertaining to methods.’ Methodological may have acquired this meaning because people had already been using the more ordinary adjective methodical to mean ‘orderly, systematic.’ But the misuse of methodology obscures an important conceptual distinction between the tools of scientific investigation (properly methods) and the principles that determine how such tools are deployed and interpreted.”
Something to bear in mind when you’re writing your next research proposal… :-)
Reminds me of the American creationists’ belief that the word “theory” (as in, evolutionary) actually means “opinion”.
Just came across this whilst browsing for something else. YES! For the however many years I’ve worked in user experience research I’ve tried to edge people back to the word ‘Method’ rather than ‘Methodology’. I think it may be a lost cause. People just love their ‘…ologies’.
Well said!
This is what I can comment on the topic…
Research method- is a study that describes the procedures that have been followed in conducting the study. In this stage, techniques of obtaining data are actually collected to test hypothesis, if any. As generally the word method means the way of doing (something) certain work.
While, on the other hand Research methodology can be defined as the science of studying how research is done scientifically. It involves some stapes in studying the research problem along with the logic behind them.
Therefore, methodology is the study of research methods while the research method is the study pertaining the actual procedures of doing research
Alison, you nailed it. I laughed out loud from your mentioning the ‘…ologies’, which allowed me to reminisce right back to a course I took at Colorado State University on communism. Yes, I understand their relevance in the contexts as they were used in class, BUT, what I had pain in my ears from was the unbelievably tiresome overuse of “;..ism” at teh end of seeming every word. or wordism I mean, eh hem. ha ha ha :) just kidding. :)
Interesting and useful discussion. Thanks