method

A method is a systematic procedure for accomplishing a task or solving a problem. It consists of a sequence of steps, rules, or techniques designed to achieve consistent results. The word derives from the Latin methodus, from Greek metodos, meaning a way of pursuing something.

Methods are components of methodology—the overall framework used to study a phenomenon. A method is the concrete technique or tool employed, while methodology refers to the rationale and principles that guide the selection and application of methods. Characteristics of good methods include clarity, repeatability, explicit instructions, and verifiability.

In science and scholarly work, a method outlines procedures, materials, data collection, and analysis. The scientific method refers to an iterative process of observation, question formation, hypothesis testing, experimentation, and interpretation of results. Methods should be described with enough detail to allow replication by others.

In mathematics and logic, a method is a procedure for solving a problem or proving a statement; some methods are algorithmic, others rely on deductive or constructive reasoning. In computing, a method can denote a function associated with an object or class rather than a standalone routine.

Methods are also discussed in education, research, medicine, and engineering—e.g., teaching methods, research methods, diagnostic methods, and clinical methods. They are often evaluated by criteria such as validity, reliability, efficiency, and appropriateness to context.