Metoodilisi

Metoodilisi is a term used in discussions of research practice to refer to the collection of methods, procedures, and standards that guide how knowledge is produced within a field. The term is sometimes encountered in polyglot or Estonian-language scholarship where it functions as a plural or adjective relating to method-related aspects. In practice, metoodilisi encompasses methodological approaches, selection of research designs, data collection and analysis techniques, validation criteria, and reporting standards. The concept emphasizes transparency and explicit justification of methodological choices, enabling replication and comparability across studies.

Origin and usage: The word appears in scholarly discourse as a way to discuss the methodological plurality within a field, especially where multiple epistemic stances coexist. It is not a single, unified doctrine, but rather a descriptor for the aggregate of method-related practices that researchers adopt.

Applications: In interdisciplinary research and meta-analysis, metoodilisi-style reflection helps teams align on design choices, evaluation criteria, and quality assurance. It also plays a role in peer review by providing a framework to assess the rigor of methods rather than outcomes alone.

Criticism and limitations: Critics warn that broad use of the term can obscure methodological disagreements or create a false sense of standardization. Practitioners stress the need for concrete, field-specific guidelines within any metoodilisi framework.

See also: methodology, research design, methodological pluralism, epistemology.