Methods or methodology: terms that are too often confused
There is a distinct difference between methodology and methods in research. However, too many students, researchers, and authors of academic papers do not seem to pay attention to the crucial difference. This is true not only in education research but also in many other academic disciplines. In simp...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Kathmandu University School of Education
2023
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://repository.londonmet.ac.uk/9756/1/Methods-or-methodology-terms-that-are-too-often-confused-15421.pdf |
| _version_ | 1824446493337059328 |
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| author | Harvey, Orlanda Regmi, Pramod Raj Mahato, Preeti Dhakal Adhikari, Shovita Dhital, Rolina Van Teijlingen, Edwin |
| author_facet | Harvey, Orlanda Regmi, Pramod Raj Mahato, Preeti Dhakal Adhikari, Shovita Dhital, Rolina Van Teijlingen, Edwin |
| author_sort | Harvey, Orlanda |
| collection | LMU |
| description | There is a distinct difference between methodology and methods in research. However, too many students, researchers, and authors of academic papers do not seem to pay attention to the crucial difference. This is true not only in education research but also in many other academic disciplines. In simple terms, the term methods refers to the research tools and techniques; for example, in the qualitative field, interviews are a tool to collect data, and in the quantitative field, a questionnaire-based survey is an example of a data collection tool. Methodology is a broader concept as it refers to the overall approach to the research, includes a justification for this approach, and links to research philosophy, i.e., how we produce knowledge. This methodological note aims to explain the confusion, drawing on examples from the published literature in education research and beyond. It also considers the complexities and crossovers. The final section ends with key advice to researchers and authors on key mistakes to avoid regarding the difference between methods and methodology, including covering this in early supervision discussions. |
| first_indexed | 2025-02-19T01:16:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | oai:repository.londonmet.ac.uk:9756 |
| institution | London Metropolitan University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-02-19T01:16:02Z |
| publishDate | 2023 |
| publisher | Kathmandu University School of Education |
| record_format | eprints |
| spelling | oai:repository.londonmet.ac.uk:97562024-10-28T10:19:38Z https://repository.londonmet.ac.uk/9756/ Methods or methodology: terms that are too often confused Harvey, Orlanda Regmi, Pramod Raj Mahato, Preeti Dhakal Adhikari, Shovita Dhital, Rolina Van Teijlingen, Edwin 000 Computer science, information & general works 370 Education There is a distinct difference between methodology and methods in research. However, too many students, researchers, and authors of academic papers do not seem to pay attention to the crucial difference. This is true not only in education research but also in many other academic disciplines. In simple terms, the term methods refers to the research tools and techniques; for example, in the qualitative field, interviews are a tool to collect data, and in the quantitative field, a questionnaire-based survey is an example of a data collection tool. Methodology is a broader concept as it refers to the overall approach to the research, includes a justification for this approach, and links to research philosophy, i.e., how we produce knowledge. This methodological note aims to explain the confusion, drawing on examples from the published literature in education research and beyond. It also considers the complexities and crossovers. The final section ends with key advice to researchers and authors on key mistakes to avoid regarding the difference between methods and methodology, including covering this in early supervision discussions. Kathmandu University School of Education 2023 Article PeerReviewed text en cc_by_sa_4 https://repository.londonmet.ac.uk/9756/1/Methods-or-methodology-terms-that-are-too-often-confused-15421.pdf Harvey, Orlanda, Regmi, Pramod Raj, Mahato, Preeti, Dhakal Adhikari, Shovita, Dhital, Rolina and Van Teijlingen, Edwin (2023) Methods or methodology: terms that are too often confused. Journal of Education and Research, 13 (2). pp. 94-105. ISSN 2091-2560 https://doi.org/10.51474/jer.v13i2.716 10.51474/jer.v13i2.716 10.51474/jer.v13i2.716 |
| spellingShingle | 000 Computer science, information & general works 370 Education Harvey, Orlanda Regmi, Pramod Raj Mahato, Preeti Dhakal Adhikari, Shovita Dhital, Rolina Van Teijlingen, Edwin Methods or methodology: terms that are too often confused |
| title | Methods or methodology: terms that are too often confused |
| title_full | Methods or methodology: terms that are too often confused |
| title_fullStr | Methods or methodology: terms that are too often confused |
| title_full_unstemmed | Methods or methodology: terms that are too often confused |
| title_short | Methods or methodology: terms that are too often confused |
| title_sort | methods or methodology terms that are too often confused |
| topic | 000 Computer science, information & general works 370 Education |
| url | https://repository.londonmet.ac.uk/9756/1/Methods-or-methodology-terms-that-are-too-often-confused-15421.pdf |
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