Dear André,
Thanks for your note. The “methodology chapter” uses the term “methodology” correctly. In the methodology chapter of a book or thesis, or the methodology section of an article, the author discusses the method or methods he or she uses. The author may also discuss, describe, and compare these with other methods that were considered. This is the comparative study of method. Thus, the chapter involves methodology, even though the work at hand may finally use only one method.
This usage is general and standard across disciplines. Through inexact colloquial usage, the term “methodology” has come to be widely used in place of the word method. This is a matter of careless usage, not a case of differences among disciplines.
Don Norman’s note on this topic is quite right. Don has been a tenured full professor of design, engineering, psychology, and cognitive science, so he speaks for at least four major fields in this respect.
Warm wishes,
Ken
Ken Friedman, PhD, DSc (hc), FDRS | Chair Professor of Design Innovation Studies | College of Design and Innovation | Tongji University | Shanghai, China ||| University Distinguished Professor | Centre for Design Innovation | Swinburne University of Technology | Melbourne, Australia
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André Neves wrote:
—snip—
In fact, many jobs confuse methodology and “sets of methods.” We must remember that many academic works from other areas bring a chapter called “methodology”.
This inappropriate use of the term can be the basis of this “confusion”. I do not know if there's how to adjust it. It seems to me that is culturally embedded in scientific circles.
—snip—
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