Difference Between Method and Methodology

The difference between method and methodology are those characteristics that distinguish one concept from the other that, although they are often confused with each other, are not the same.


Sometimes method and methodology are often used interchangeably, but it is important to explain what each of these terms consists of.


Difference between method and methodology


To begin with, the method is the set of procedures that allow an objective to be achieved. It is a series of steps to follow, a scheme, to reach a goal. In a very broad sense, methods are applied to all the activities we do in our daily lives.


That is, not only are there reference methods in the world of academia such as the scientific method, but each person can have a method to study, to exercise, etc.


The method then refers to a way of doing things, and includes the use of certain tools and/or techniques. In addition, by using experience, it can be corrected over time. For example, if a certain way of dieting does not provide the desired results, another alternative can be sought.


Instead, the methodology is the theoretical framework that supports a method. That is, it is the study of these procedures, analyzing the steps carried out by researchers and the instruments used in this work.


The methodology is characterized by being normative, that is, it assesses the methods (determining if they are adequate according to the objective it seeks to achieve), but it is also descriptive and comparative, analyzing different methods to know the advantages and disadvantages of each one.


In simple, the methodology has as object of investigation of the methods. Thus, methodology is a branch of study, it is a concept more linked to the academy, while method is a tool, it is a term more related to the practical.


Example of method and methodology


An example of a method can be the scientific method, which is the one used in the academic field to demonstrate a certain theory.


For its part, the methodology would be that theoretical framework that explains what steps the scientific method must follow, which in summary are:


  • Observation.
  • Formulation of the hypothesis.
  • Experimentation.
  • Verification or denial of the hypothesis.