methodology, noun. a. A discipline, a major part of the practices, protocols, and rules used in a research; a group of working methods: e.g., genetic research methodology; fault methodology; b. The study or theory of working methods. analysis; a branch of the general principles governing the constitution of knowledge; Usage Issues Methodology may refer to the theoretical analysis applicable to a field of study, or to the main methods and basic principles specific to a branch of knowledge. In recent years, however, the term methodology has been replaced in scientific and technical terminology by the word method (method). For example, an oil company has not yet decided on any methodology to rehabilitate polluted beaches; however, the misuse of the word methodology can obscure the difference between the concepts of the tools of scientific research (or, perhaps more appropriately, the methods of scientific research) and the principles of scientific research, which determine how the tools of scientific research are configured and interpreted.