methodology

noun

meth·​od·​ol·​o·​gy ˌme-thə-ˈdä-lə-jē 

plural methodologies

1

: a body of methods, rules, and postulates employed by a discipline : a particular procedure or set of procedures

demonstrating library research methodology

the issue is massive revision of teaching methodology

—Bob Samples

2

: the analysis of the principles or procedures of inquiry in a particular field

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Methodology and Science

The methodology employed in an experiment is essential to its success, and bad methodology has spoiled thousands of research projects. So whenever a piece of research is published in a scientific or medical journal, the researchers always carefully describe their methodology; otherwise, other scientists couldn't possibly judge the quality of what they've done.

Synonyms

• course
• line
• policy
• procedure
• program

Example Sentences

He blamed the failure of their research on poor methodology.

for solving crossword puzzles my usual methodology is to begin by filling in all of the answers I'm reasonably sure of

Recent Examples on the Web

The methodology would take into account each student’s environment as well as their family’s socioeconomic status to calculate how much aid their school would receive. —Lillian Reed, Baltimore Sun, 30 Mar. 2023

That being said, while the means to achieving glowing skin may vary by skin type, the methodology remains the same. —Kiana Murden, Vogue, 23 Mar. 2023

The methodology of the report states that the authors totaled financing (lending, and underwriting of debt and equity issuances) from the world’s 60 biggest banks for the fossil fuel sector as a whole, as well as for top expanders of the fossil fuel industry and top companies in specific sectors. —Clarisa Diaz, Quartz, 22 Mar. 2023

Nielsen has also tweaked the methodology for the Gauge so that cable and broadcast viewing that happens on platforms like YouTube TV and Hulu + Live isn’t counted twice. —Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Mar. 2023

Matt Whitehill, a graduate student who worked on the cough identification paper, questions some of the methodology underlying the snoring research and thinks more rigorous testing would lower its efficacy. —WIRED, 16 Mar. 2023

There are too many theories, too much wiggle room between them, too many problems with the data, and too many flaws in the methodologies for measurement – that prevent us from declaring a decisive verdict. —George Calhoun, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2023

There is also debate by groups such as the Alliance for Food and Farming about the methodology used by EWG, and experts point out that, no matter the food, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables is always a healthy choice. —Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Mar. 2023

Her animal rights groups and some others dispute the official and industry figures for the number of kangaroos in the country, claiming the methodology is flawed and inflated. —Frances Vinall, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

New Latin methodologia, from Latin methodus + -logia -logy

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined at sense 1