A Comparative Analysis of Research Methods and Research Methodology

This academic essay explores the fundamental differences between research methods and research methodology. It defines research methods as the tools used for data gathering, such as surveys and interviews, while research methodology encompasses the overall analytical lens and strategic approach to a research project. The essay highlights the various steps involved in the research process, from formulating a research problem to drawing conclusions. It also includes a case study that discusses whether smartphones should be banned in college classrooms, examining the use of secondary methods and qualitative methodologies to gather and analyze data on the topic. The essay concludes by emphasizing the importance of understanding both methods and methodology for conducting effective research. It also includes a detailed list of references.

Difference between
method and
methodology

Table of Contents
Academic Essay...............................................................................................................................3
What is difference between research method and methodology?....................................................3
Field of study: Should smartphone be banned in classrooms in college?........................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

Academic Essay
What is difference between research method and methodology?
Method and methodology are two different terms mainly used in research. The term
method is basically seen as the tool that is used by investigator for answering research question
in best possible manner (McKim, 2017). It also states that how investigator will gather
information or data with the uses of appropriate sources in effective way. Some of the popular
method used by investigator for gathering information includes interview, Survey, Card Sort,
Contextual inquiry, Dairy study, Usability study, questionnaire etc.
On the contrary, research methodology is mainly seen as the lens by which overall
analysis related to research occurs. It also identified as the important part for every research
approach that works as the supportive factor while analyzing the investigation in rightful manner.
Apart from this, it is also seen as the generic research strategy which depicts the manner in which
investigation will be carried out (McCusker and Gunaydin, 2015). Some of the main examples of
methodology includes phenomenology, participatory, grounding theory, ethnomethodology,
ethnography etc.
Apart from this, it can be said that research process is consisting of different steps which
are required to be followed considered by researcher while carrying out research in suitable
manner. In this, investigator initially develop research problem, carries out literature review on
the same, develops research questions, selects sample size, gathers information or data, test
hypothesis, interprets information and finally draws conclusion on the basis of gathered
information towards the research problem. Various methods used in the whole process are
considered as the research methods. Whereas, science, logic's etc. used behind the selection of
research methods are seen methodology. In this, investigator basically selects specific reason for
selecting research methods towards the research issue or problem. It mainly makes use of
philosophical framework and theoretical framework so that they can select right research method
from the starting phase only (Hirschi and Selvin, 2017). The main role of research methodology
in investigation is to find suitable research method towards the issue or research problem,
exploring accuracy of results based on selected research methods and ensuring effectiveness and
efficiency of research methods in rightful manner.

Methods and methodology are considered as the effective medium through which
researcher can easily conduct research attain true and valid outcome towards their research
problem in rightful manner. Here, methods are simply seen as the research tools or components
of investigation like interview, questionnaire, survey etc. On the other hand, methodology is
here termed as justification of the research method that is being used by investigator while
conducting this research in effective manner (Difference Between Research Method and
Research Methodology, 2019).
Moreover, different sort of instruments and behavioral aspects are adopted by
investigator while selecting research techniques in methods. On the contrary, methodology is
mainly comprised of science of understanding in order to develop knowledge on how research is
going to be performed in effective manner.
Core differences of research method and methodology are described below in order to
understand both the terms in effective manner:
Research Method Research Methodology
It is the explored as the methods used by
investigator to gather information so that they
could carry out effective research (Hartas,
2015).
Conversely, methodology seen as the way by
which investigator significantly resolve
research problem in best possible manner.
The main objective of method is to explore
solutions through which research problem can
be resolved effectively. In this, investigator
uses range of methods in order to gather
maximum possible information over the topic
or research problem that will be addressed
through this study.
The main objective of methodology is to apply
right procedures during the investigations so
that they can effectively find out solutions for
their research problems effectively (Kumar,
2019). The main motive of investigator is to go
correct process that will provide value to their
research topic and also help them out in
attaining effective solutions towards research
problems.
It is mainly concerned with the conducting
test, experiments, surveys, interview etc. for
gathering maximum data on the research
It is consist of different techniques that is
further adopted by researchers so that they can
perform effective while carrying out experiment

problem (Henry, Foss and Ahl, 2016). and survey.
Main focus of methods is to conduct
investigation with the support of different
techniques
Major focus of methodology align all
techniques in such a manner that supports in
attaining actual purpose of conducting
investigation in rightful manner.
Research method focuses on discovering
solution of problem at the same time
On the contrary, focus of research methodology
is on applying best feasible procedures while
conducting research for the main aim of
attaining solutions towards the research
problem in effective manner (Baronov, 2015).
Field of study: Should smartphone be banned in classrooms in college?
Considering the secondary method and qualitative form of methodology, investigator has
gathered information on the given topic “Should smartphone be banned in classrooms in
college?”. In secondary form of data collection mainly books and journals are taken into
consideration for gathering maximum information over the same. Furthermore, qualitative
approach has been used to analyze the gathered data in order to draw valid outcome based on
human perception.
Smartphone are seen as effective medium through which individuals especially learners
can develop their knowledge on respective subjects. This works as the supportive factor for them
through which they can effectively develop their knowledge and perform their assigned job
responsibilities in rightful manner (Mahesh, Jayahari and Bijlani, 2016). On the contrary usage
of smartphones in classroom also becomes reason of distraction as students might get diverted
towards the non academic zone which directly places negative impact over their learning area.
Smartphone has its own plus as well as negative points in the classroom in college.
While looking at the statement that whether Smartphone should be banned or not in the
classroom, it can be said that it should be banned. This is because, smartphones are considered as
the effective medium of learning for students especially in classroom with this students can
easily develop their learning with practical knowledge (McCoy, 2016). Here, teachers are
expected to take certain action before allowing students in making use of smart phone so that

they does not distracted in their learning procedure. Teachers should allow students to use few
learning application that will support them in enhancing their learning in effective manner
(Mavhunga, and et. al., 2016). This will also not divert students mindset and keeps them on the
track of learning.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
McKim, C. A., 2017. The value of mixed methods research: A mixed methods study. Journal of
Mixed Methods Research, 11(2), pp.202-222.
McCusker, K. and Gunaydin, S., 2015. Research using qualitative, quantitative or mixed
methods and choice based on the research. Perfusion, 30(7), pp.537-542.
Hirschi, T. and Selvin, H. C., 2017. Delinquency research: An appraisal of analytic methods.
Routledge.
Kumar, R., 2019. Research methodology: A step-by-step guide for beginners. Sage Publications
Limited.
Henry, C., Foss, L. and Ahl, H., 2016. Gender and entrepreneurship research: A review of
methodological approaches. International Small Business Journal, 34(3), pp.217-241.
Baronov, D., 2015. Conceptual foundations of social research methods. Routledge.
Hartas, D. ed., 2015. Educational research and inquiry: Qualitative and quantitative
approaches. Bloomsbury Publishing.
McCoy, B. R., 2016. Digital distractions in the classroom phase II: Student classroom use of
digital devices for non-class related purposes.
Mahesh, G., Jayahari, K. R. and Bijlani, K., 2016, August. A smart phone integrated smart
classroom. In 2016 10th International Conference on Next Generation Mobile
Applications, Security and Technologies (NGMAST) (pp. 88-93). IEEE.
Mavhunga, F .Z., and et. al., 2016. Smartphones in public secondary schools: Views of matric
graduates. Perspectives in Education, 34(3), pp.72-85.
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