¿Qué es metodología?

Main ideas / lessons

• Definition of methodology

  • Methodology is a set of procedures/processes used to address a research problem, tailored to:
    • the research objective (what you want to find out), and
    • the object/subjects of study (who or what you are studying).

• Methodology depends on what you want to study and achieve

  • Example contrasts:
    • If your goal is to describe a community’s culture, you choose a methodology suited to studying that social/cultural object.
    • If your goal is to understand the meaning of a text, you choose a methodology suited to analyzing texts/discourse.

• Different sciences develop different methodologies

  • Each discipline builds methodologies aligned with its typical object(s) of study.
  • Examples given:
    • Sociology → methodologies such as ethnography (to describe a community’s culture), developed with contributions from sociologists and anthropologists and related scholarly traditions.
    • Linguistics / semiotics → methodologies for analyzing texts/discourses, as well as photographs, images, symbols, and icons.

• Methodology includes rules, but can be adapted

  • Ideally, when selecting a methodology, a researcher should:
    • ensure it matches the objective,
    • ensure it matches the object/subject of study, and
    • read and follow the rules/processes described by the authors who developed it.
  • Innovation/integration is allowed:
    • Even if a methodology has a characteristic tool/step, you can integrate additional instruments from other methodologies.
    • Example: In ethnography (main tool: observation), you can still use a survey to complement the study and gather sociodemographic data.

• Qualitative vs. quantitative methodologies

  • Depending on the research work, methodologies may be qualitative or quantitative.
  • Qualitative examples mentioned:
    • ethnographic research methodologies
    • phenomenological research
    • participatory action research
    • historical research
    • life history research
    • case studies

• What you typically define in an undergraduate thesis

  • At minimum, in undergraduate thesis writing, you typically define:
    1. the paradigm being used,
    2. the method chosen (qualitative or quantitative), and
    3. within that, the specific methodology for the project.
  • Not all projects are required to adopt a specific methodology at that level; often undergraduate work only specifies the method, then moves on to research instruments.

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Methodology-related guidance (“instructions”)

• When choosing a research methodology

  • Check that the methodology aligns with your research objective (what you want to find out).
  • Check that the methodology aligns with your object/subject of study (people, objects, documents, texts).
  • Study the authors’ rules and follow the methodology’s processes accurately.

• When you want to adapt or combine tools

  • You may innovate or integrate tools from different methodologies.
  • Example approach:
    • Use ethnography’s core tool (observation),
    • and add a survey to complement the study (e.g., to obtain sociodemographic data).

• In undergraduate thesis structure (as described)

  • Define:
    • the paradigm,
    • the method (qualitative/quantitative),
    • and the methodology within that method (for the project).
  • If methodology isn’t specified, the thesis may only mention the method, then proceed to instruments.

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Speakers / sources featured

• Unidentified speaker/host
  • The narrator/creator of the “research methodology” episode (only “I” is used; no name provided).