menetelmat

Menetelmat are a set of systematic approaches used to achieve objectives, answer questions, or solve problems in research, development, and professional practice. The term is the plural of menetelmä and is used across disciplines to refer to both concrete techniques and broader strategies for inquiry and action.

Classification and examples: In research, methods are often described as qualitative or quantitative. Qualitative methods include interviews, focus groups, ethnography, content analysis, and thematic analysis; quantitative methods include experiments, surveys, statistical modeling, and computational simulations. Other common categories include experimental versus observational methods, theoretical versus empirical methods, and deductive versus inductive reasoning.

Process and criteria: Choosing methods usually follows the research design and aims. Typical steps include defining questions, selecting design, collecting data, analyzing data, and interpreting results. Good practices emphasize transparency, validity, reliability, and replicability, as well as ethical considerations.

Application: Methods are used in natural sciences (laboratory experiments, measurement techniques), social sciences (surveys, case studies), engineering (design and testing procedures), and humanities (textual analysis, historiography). In applied settings, methods guide problem solving, evaluation, and policy development.

Relation to methodology: A methodology refers to the overarching framework that justifies the chosen methods and explains how they fit the research goals. Methods are the practical tools; methodology is the rationale guiding their use.