One of the common mistakes fledgling researchers commit is collapsing the terms “research method” and “research methodology” together. In other words, some scholars confused research method with research methodology. Of course, the two are not the same, and understanding their difference is of paramount importance in research as it does not only show that we, as researchers, have a strong grasp of the basics in research but it also helps us come up with a proper research design.
On the one hand, a research method is the logic of how a scholar arrives at a valid and reliable knowledge. In other words, a research method is the strategy employed in the collection of data or evidence for analysis to uncover new information or arrive at a better understanding of a particular topic. So, a research method is the tool used in carrying out the research. For example, a researcher may employ a qualitative research method in determining the lived experiences of Libyan nurses assigned during wartime.
Research methodology, on the other hand, is the justification for using a particular research method. In other words, a research methodology is the “plan” that explains why, as in the example above, a qualitative research method is employed in determining the lived experiences of Libyan nurses assigned during wartime.
The research methodology, therefore, is the theoretical positioning of the research, while research method is the “doing” of the research itself. The former, therefore, is viewed as the body of knowledge which attempts to explain or understand how a research is done, while the latter refers to the specific process or steps that the researcher may follow in undertaking the study.
Let us use the simple analogy of “constructing a building” to explain the difference between these two terms. Research methodology is the “construction plan” itself, while research method is the “actual” construction of the building, which includes the tools and other materials needed for the construction of the building. This explains why in the actual thesis or thesis proposal, a chapter on data gathering process is commonly titled “Research Methodology” as it contains the entire plan in collecting and analyzing data, while the body of this chapter contains the specificity of the research method, such as using interviews or surveys in data gathering.