methodology

noun

meth·​od·​ol·​o·​gy ˌme-thə-ˈdä-lə-jē How to pronounce methodology (audio)
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 methodologyBob 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.

Examples of methodology in a Sentence

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 But the methodology YouGov uses, known in the polling world as opt-in panels, can be victimized by bogus respondents. David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2024 Using the methodology from the National Vital Statistics System, the maternal death rate increased from about 9.7 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1999 to 2002 to 23.6 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2018 to 2021, according to the new study. Deidre McPhillips, CNN, 13 Mar. 2024 Pure album sales were the sole measurement utilized by the Billboard 200 albums chart through the list dated Dec. 6, 2014, after which that chart switched to a methodology that blends album sales with track equivalent album units and streaming equivalent album units. Keith Caulfield, Billboard, 9 Mar. 2024 After using a brute-force attack methodology, which allowed the entire search space to be covered in about an hour, Aryal discovered that, for some users at least, the nonce code would be displayed right there on the notification itself. Davey Winder, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 Some election experts say its methodology is flawed. The Arizona Republic, 25 Feb. 2024 However, Patrick Murray, director of the polling institute at Monmouth University, said that some polls show Trump’s support among Black voters has steadily increased from 12% depending on the methodology used and the margin of error. Sudiksha Kochi, USA TODAY, 29 Feb. 2024 The state committee, which dissolved in 2023, also offered numerous policy recommendations, including methodologies to calculate cash payments to descendants of enslaved people. Janie Har, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 Feb. 2024 Here is Forbes' methodology behind the rankings and how Milwaukee's drivers compare to those in other U.S. cities. Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'methodology.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of methodology was in 1800

Dictionary Entries Near methodology

Cite this Entry

“Methodology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/methodology. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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