methodologically
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /mˌɛθədəlˈɒdʒɪklɪ/
US
- /mˌɛθədəlˈɑːdʒɪkli/
Description
- in terms of method
- with a clear research approach
- using a structured system
- according to a set process
When something is done methodologically, the focus is on the method being used. It means a person is working according to a clear system, plan, or research process instead of guessing or acting randomly. You will often see this word in academic writing, especially when people talk about studies, experiments, or ways of analyzing information. For example, a researcher might explain how two studies are different methodologically, meaning they use different methods.
The word "methodologically" is used when the main point is the method behind something: how it is studied, organized, tested, or compared. It does not simply mean "carefully" or "step by step." More often, it points to the structure of an approach, especially in research, academic writing, or formal analysis.
You will often find it in discussions of science and scholarship. A paper might say that two experiments are methodologically similar, meaning they follow a similar research design. A reviewer might say a study is methodologically weak, meaning there is a problem with the way the study was set up or carried out. In these cases, the word helps describe the quality or type of method being used.
It can also appear in broader professional contexts when people compare systems, procedures, or ways of solving problems. For example, two training programs might be methodologically different if one uses observation and the other uses testing. The word often appears near terms like "sound," "rigorous," "weak," "different," or "similar" because it is frequently used to evaluate or compare approaches.
So, if someone uses "methodologically," they are usually drawing attention to the method itself, not just the action. The word is especially useful when talking about whether an approach makes sense, whether it is reliable, and how it compares with another approach.
Examples
- 1
Data collection
She collected the data methodologically, recording each interview in the same way.
- 2
Study quality
The study is methodologically sound, so its results are taken seriously.
Pattern
methodologically sound
based on careful and reliable research methods
- 3
Report comparison
The two reports reach similar conclusions, but methodologically they are quite different.
- 4
Research criticism
The article was criticized for being methodologically weak, especially in the way it selected participants.
- 5
Survey comparison
Methodologically, the new survey is closer to the 2024 version than to the earlier pilot study.
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- methodologicallyadverb