| Research methodology refers
to the overall approach to the research process. It deals with the
theoretical background of the research to the collection and analysis of
data. On the other hand, research method refers to the means of
data collection and analysis. Methodology concerns with the issues of
why certain data is collected, what type of data to be collected, from
where the data is collected, when do you collect the data, how do you
collect the data and how do you perform analysis of the data. There are many different types of methodologies, and they can be classified along a continuum of research paradigm. Some research methodologies lend more towards the positivistic paradigm while some lend more towards the phenomenological paradigm. The positivistic paradigm in the social science resembles the approach in natural sciences which attempt to look for facts or causes of social phenomena without considering the subjective state of the individual. It uses logical reasoning so that precision and objectivity is preferred over intuition and experience in the process of conducting a research. The research methods can also be categorized as quantitative research methods. On the other hand, phenomenological paradigm is concerned with understanding human behaviour from the participant's own frame of reference . It argues that the natural sciences deal with objects external to us whereas the social sciences deal with action and behaviour which are generated from within the human mind. Phenomenologists believe that the social reality is dependent on the mind therefore what is being researched cannot be unaffected by the mind. The research methods can generally be categorized as qualitative research methods. The following table lists a number of research methodologies classified under the positivistic and the phenomenological paradigms.
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