In academic writing, method and methodology are not interchangeable. Mixing them up makes it harder for readers (and examiners) to see whether your choices are justified—or just convenient.
Definitions
- A method is a specific technique or procedure (what you do).
- A methodology is the broader research design and rationale (why this is the right way to answer the question), including theoretical framing, validity considerations, and principles for choosing methods (Aguiar, 2024).
For example, in a study aiming to improve service levels in a mobility service, the method might involve implementing a reinforcement learning algorithm to optimize vehicle routing based on historical data. Meanwhile, the research methodology would justify why reinforcement learning is an appropriate approach for the research question, compared to alternatives (e.g., optimization, simulation, or empirical analysis), and how you will evaluate outcomes and validity.
Figure 1 shows how the method and methodology are distinct yet interconnected components of research design.
Where This Shows Up in Theses
Literature Reviews (PRISMA and systematic searching)
PRISMA is an evidence-based guideline for transparently reporting systematic reviews (Page et al., 2021). In thesis terms, think of it like this:
- Method(s): the concrete steps you took (databases, search strings, eligibility criteria, screening, and what you extracted).
- Methodology: why a systematic approach fits your question, how you reduced selection bias, and how your process supports a credible gap statement.
Research Questions (RQ frameworks and “RQ methods”)
Frameworks like PICO are tools for designing an answerable research question: they help you make the context, comparison/baseline, and outcomes explicit. That is part of your research design (methodology), not a data-collection method.
Use Research Question to tighten wording and assumptions, and Research Design to connect the RQ to evidence and evaluation choices.
Problem-Solving Theses (MPSM as a methodology scaffold)
In IEM projects, MPSM is often called a “method,” but it works like a methodology scaffold: a structured way to move from a messy situation to a well-argued intervention, while leaving you free to choose the right methods inside each phase (Heerkens & Van Winden, 2021).
If you use MPSM, be explicit about the division:
- Methodology: you follow the MPSM phases (problem → analysis → solution design → implementation/evaluation).
- Method(s): interviews, process mapping, statistical analysis, simulation, optimization, experiments, etc.—whatever produces the evidence you need.
For a practical introduction, see Solving Managerial Problems Systematically (MPSM).
Takeaway
A rigorous methodology increases the credibility of your findings by making your choices explicit and defensible. A good method is necessary, but it only makes sense inside a coherent methodology—so name both, and show how they fit together.