Scientific methodology is defined as the investigative procedure used essentially in the creation of science-based knowledge. It is called scientific because the investigation is based on empirical and measurement, adjusting to the specific principles of reasoning tests.
Scientific methodology has been a procedure that has distinguished natural science since the 17th century, developing through consistent observation, in the measurement, experimentation, formulation, analysis and reform of hypotheses.
This methodology is supported by two basic bases, reproducibility and refutability. The first is associated with the repeatability of an experiment, anywhere and by any individual, in addition to relying on communication and the results achieved. The second, determines that every scientific proposition may be false and end up being rejected. This means that several experiments could be carried out, but if each one produces different results than those predicted, they would negate the hypothesis being tested.
Within scientific research four elements are present: subject, object, means and end. The subject is the one who will carry out the research, the object is the subject to be investigated, the means is what is needed to carry out the research and finally the end, which refers to the purpose pursued by the research activity.
All research pursues a specific purpose, therefore certain strategies must be applied in particular or in other cases, they can be combined strategies. Starting from there, it can be said that all scientific research can be classified into:
Depending on its purpose: basic or applied.
Basic scientific research: this type of research is characterized because it is supported by a theoretical framework, its purpose resides in the formulation of new theories or modification of existing ones.
Applied scientific research: it is characterized because it seeks the application of the acquired knowledge, so the researcher is only interested in the practical consequences.
Depending on the mechanisms used to obtain data: documentary, field and experimental.
Research is documentary when it is supported by sources of a documentary nature. Eg: documents, files, files, magazines, etc. When it is in the field, research tends to be based on information that comes from others (interviews, surveys, etc.)
Research is experimental, it is one that obtains the data through the intentional activity carried out by the researcher.
Depending on the knowledge that is acquired: exploratory descriptive or explanatory.
It is exploratory when its objective is to highlight the basic aspects of a specific problem and find the appropriate methodology to carry out further research. It is descriptive, when a situation or object is analyzed, pointing out its characteristics and properties. It is explanatory when it tries to respond to the different reasons that prompted the investigation.
