Similarities and Differences Between Method and Methodology

If we start with the definitions, method and methodology can be seen to have a derivative relationship. According to the Oxford Dictionary, a method is “a particular procedure for accomplishing or approaching something, especially a systematic or established one.” When we try to look for the definition of methodology, we find that it is just a word that comes as a result of a derivation. As seen by McGregor and Murname (2010, p. 2),

“The word methodology comprises two nouns: method and ology, which means a branch of knowledge; hence, a methodology is a branch of knowledge that deals with the general principles or axioms of the generation of new knowledge. It refers to the rationale and the philosophical assumptions that underlie any natural, social, or human science study, whether articulated or not. Simply put, methodology refers to how each of logic, reality, values, and what counts as knowledge inform research.”

The first clause has already explained clearly that methodology is a compound word, therefore it must have attained its meaning from its root: method.

Now, we know that method means a way to gain or complete an objective. In daily circumstances, this term is used colloquially and in a very easily comprehensible meaning. It is, however, different with methodology. People have mistakenly used those words interchangeably, thinking that they are the same, while methodology refers to something more systematic and scientific. Methodology deals with the development of research in a particular area of knowledge. It deals with the arrangement of an explorative experiment in fields of science. It requires informed and measured planning to perform a study in which a methodological aspect is highly needed. Methodology does not tell us how to tie our laces, however diverse the method of tying laces could have been invented, but it teaches us how to build an established framework towards the finding of ways to tie our shoe laces.

Another definition of methodology, from the book ‘Teaching by Principles: An Interactive Approach to Language Pedagogy’ by H Douglas Brown, states that methodology is a pedagogical practice in general. All things that are engaging in “how to teach” questions are methodological, whatever the considerations take into account. (2001, p. 15-16).  This poses some contradiction to the aforementioned definition of methodology, which stated that methodology does not refer to steps and procedures in general but rather focuses on the development of said procedures.

These two intakes on methodology pose a problem when we are trying to find the true definition of methodology, as this definition contradicts each other. For example, when a scholar would like to conduct research that deals with the effectiveness of a method used in teaching a foreign language in a university, the researchers face difficulties in whether or not the practice of teaching is considered a methodology. However, this can be solved by choosing one definition that supports the hypothesis of said research. Thus, the definition that strengthens the claim should be preferred.

With the aforementioned facts, the distinction between method and methodology is quite clear. Similarly, method and methodology both deal with research and knowledge. A method is simply one practice someone does on research and methodology is the overall strategy, the outline of the principles used that guide a research. An example would be; research on former presidential elections, surveys would be the tools used as a method to answer a question about former presidential elections when researching said topic, while historiography, the study of history as a school of knowledge, would be used as a methodology to outline the research.

Another similarity between method and methodology is that they are both methodical. Both method and methodology are done systematically following certain procedures and not straying away from them to be done the right way, they follow certain guidelines to not stray from the path of their research.

A difference between method and methodology would be the scope of their grasp. A method would only include a small and particular process to answer the research question, methodology on the other hand would include every part of said research, the way the methods are conducted are also outlined by methodology, it is a set of activities, task, and/or techniques. Furthermore, methodology is used to define the way a research is conducted, method on the other hand is only a tool that helps answer a research question. Simply put, a method is a micro approach while a methodology is a macro approach.