Methodology: what it is, types and historical examples

We tell you what the methodology is, its types and the data collection instruments. Also, historical examples of different methods.

Methodology deals with the way in which a task or investigation is carried out.

What is methodology?

The methodology is the systematic study of the methods and techniques used to carry out a task or research in a particular field. That is, it deals with the way in which a task or investigation is carried out, and not with its specific content.

It includes very varied elements, ranging from the selection and definition of a problem, the collection and analysis of data, the development of hypotheses and theories, to the evaluation of results and the communication of findings.

The methodology aims to provide researchers with a systematic and rigorous structure to carry out the proposed task or research in an effective and efficient manner.

Another task of methodology is to think about the validity and reliability of the methods and techniques used in different tasks or investigations, that is, the ability of the methods and techniques to produce precise and reliable results. This makes the methodology fundamental in the research process, since it allows the quality of the results obtained to be guaranteed.

Types of methodology

Currently, There are different types of methodology used in the field of science. In the social sciences, methods are usually classified into qualitative and quantitative methods. Both ways have to do with data collection.

The use of one or another methodology has to do with the objectives of the research, since what differentiates them are the types of instruments that are used to collect or assemble the data.

• Qualitative methodologyIn this type of practice, the objective is field knowledge. When conducting research, the aim is to understand the qualities of what is being investigated through different tools that are used over time to establish different links that provide information about the object studied.
• Quantitative methodologyIn this type of practice, the objective is statistical. When research is done, data is obtained through the use of surveys as the main statistical tool. The data obtained is analyzed to generate new information useful for the purposes of the research.

Data collection instruments used in methodology

Different research tools are used in research using qualitative and quantitative methods. The use of each of them depends on the objective and the stage of the research in which the researcher is located.

The following tools are used in qualitative research:

• Speech analysis
• Depth interview
• Ethnography
• Focus group
• Participatory action research
• Participant observation
• Life story

The following tool is used in quantitative research:

Historical examples of different methods

Many philosophers, sociologists, and thinkers wrote about methodology in each of their various disciplines. Some of the most notable are:

• René Descartes (1596-1650). He was a 17th century French philosopher and mathematician who is known for his analytical method. This method emphasized the importance of methodical doubt and reason as tools to arrive at the truth.
• Francis Bacon (1561-1626)He was a 17th century English philosopher and statesman who is known for his inductive method. This method was based on systematic observation and experimentation to reach general conclusions.
• Karl Popper (1902-1994). He was a 20th-century Austrian philosopher and scientist who is known for his critical approach to the scientific method. This method emphasized the importance of falsification as a tool for testing theories.
• Thomas Kuhn (1922-1996)He was a 20th-century American historian and philosopher of science who is known for his theory of scientific paradigms and his idea that scientific advances often come about through a scientific revolution that replaces an existing paradigm with a new one.
• John Dewey (1859-1952). He was a 20th-century American philosopher and educator who is known for his pragmatic approach to methodology. This method focuses on the importance of experience and action for learning and problem solving.

These thinkers, among others, have influenced the theory and practice of methodology in different fields, such as philosophy, science, education and social research.

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References

• Martínez Miguélez, M. (2006). Validity and reliability in qualitative methodology. Paradigm, 27(2), 07-33.
• Nogueira, LAC, & Nogueira, M. Á. C. (2001). Qualitative methodology issues. Empiria. Journal of Social Science Methodology, (4), 165-192.
• Quintana Peña, A. (2006). Qualitative scientific research methodology.
• Sampieri, RH (2018). Research methodology: quantitative, qualitative and mixed routes. McGraw Hill Mexico.