Method and Methodology

Method and Methodology are two important tools social science students must possess. Yet, in
every task given to them, they seem to ignore the method or methodology part. To make things
worse, the lecturer sometimes asked students not to write and explicate their method of
reasoning. Students only need to jot down their arguments without really knowing which kind of
explanation they usually use. The result, in fact, isn’t unsurprising. 
           Because of their lack of practice, many of them are proved incapable of using methods or
methodology when they have to. Even when asked to explain basic and simple terms of
methodology, some of them are reluctant to open their mouth. This phenomenon happened when
I was entering my final year as a senior student at Sociology Department, Universitas Gadjah
Mada.
           At that particular time, I and my colleague are fond of theory, not method or methodology.
The ultimate yardstick to judge someone was his/her understanding of theory. Those who could
spell out clearly post-structuralism or post-modernism would get a special place. The names of
Chantal Mouffe, Ernesto Laclau, Jacques Derrida, Jacques Lacan, Jean Baudrillard, and Michel
Foucault are everywhere. People liked them, me included.
           But, after getting my degree and making my way into the world of research, it becomes so
cogent that theory isn’t enough. As Auguste Comte said a long time ago, theory without
observation is ‘mysticism’. When you decided to execute a research project, your capability and
skill of method or methodology will benefit your project. You can explore new ways of doing
things and most importantly you can justify your findings. Without a firm understanding of
method and methodology, the project you took will be arduous to finish. That’s why I urge those
who read this excerpt to learn more about method and methodology.