methodologist
Studies research approaches
A methodologist is someone who studies or develops methods—the systematic approaches used to conduct research or accomplish tasks.
The term appears most often in academic and scientific contexts, where methodologists design experiments, evaluate research procedures, and establish best practices: The team consulted a methodologist before designing the clinical trial.
In survey research and statistics, methodologists specialize in sampling techniques, questionnaire design, and data collection procedures.
Prescribed conduct rules
- procedurePrescribed sequence of actions
- systematicFollowing ordered procedures
- operationalizationDefining concepts as measurable
- variablesChangeable elements in equations
measurement · instrumentation · standardization · controls · hypothesis · experimental · correlational · causation
Based on observation, not theory
- qualitativeRelating to characteristics, not quantities
- quantitativeConcerning measurable amounts
- ethnographySystematic study of peoples
- phenomenologyStudy of subjective experience
meta-analysis · longitudinal · cross-sectional · mixed-methods · survey · interview · fieldwork · focus-group
Study of human communities
- psychologyStudy of mind, behavior
- anthropologyStudy of human cultures
- epidemiologyStudy of disease spread
- educationSystematic development of mind
economics · statistics · biostatistics · evaluation · demography · criminology
protocol
Prescribed conduct rules
- procedurePrescribed sequence of actions
- systematicFollowing ordered procedures
- operationalizationDefining concepts as measurable
variables · measurement · instrumentation · standardization · controls · hypothesis · experimental · correlational · causation · regression
empirical
Based on observation, not theory
- qualitativeRelating to characteristics, not quantities
- quantitativeConcerning measurable amounts
- ethnographySystematic study of peoples
phenomenology · meta-analysis · longitudinal · cross-sectional · mixed-methods · survey · interview · fieldwork · focus-group · observation
sociology
Study of human communities
- psychologyStudy of mind, behavior
- anthropologyStudy of human cultures
- epidemiologyStudy of disease spread
education · economics · statistics · biostatistics · evaluation · demography · criminology
- critical thinkersskeptic, analyst, logician, questioner, evaluator
methodologistpractitioner
One who works regularly
fieldworker · clinician · subject matter expert · technician · implementer
methodologistimproviser
One who creates spontaneously
intuitionist · amateur · dilettante · autodidact · bricoleur