Ahmed - the terms are often used interchangeably - hence the conceptual confusion. A research approach is usually broader than a research method - if the terms are used correctly. A research approach may also be termed or related to research paradigm, methodology or framework. It is the overall theoretical/philosophical underpinning of the study. Research method (design) is the 'doing' part of the research process. It includes setting and sampling, ethics, data collection and data analysis.

Adding to Dean sirs answer research approach is of three types deductive inductive and abductive and research design ia of three types exploratory descriptive and conclusive

Adding to above ansewers...

Research approach is a procedure that consists of broad hypothesis to detailed method of data collection, analysis and results and research methods are basic practical steps to cover the whole research.

Dear Dr. Dean, Thank you very much for your useful answer, it seams that is a globally disagreement about the conceptual term of research "Method", "Approach" or the use of this terms, but I understand your perspective.

Dear Dr. Jaspreet, thank you for your answer, but can you give me more details about your point of view?

Dear Dr. Mohammed, thanks a lot for the concentrated answer, but Are you have any reference for the definitions in your answer?

This is a little about the research design.

Many researchers are confused between qualitative and quantitative research.It is very simple.When one is doing a qualitative research,one will do more of an exploratory research where data will be collected with personal interview and the analysed and summarised with a content analysis or what we call the qualitative data analysis with softwares like NVIVO or ATlas i.

When one is doing a descriptive or causal research one uses quantitative research where the survey technique is used and data is analysed with statistical tools.Nowwhen do we mix these techniques.Sometimes we study an influence of various factors on a certain variable say stress,so we first do a qualitative research from samples and thru open ended questions list the major factors.Then we take another sample and test quantitatively if these factors(which came out as a result of the qualitative research) are prevalent in a certain population say Indians.This will be done thru quantitaive techniques by collecting data thru survey and analysing with the help of statistical techniques.

Dear Dr. Jaspreet Kaur , can you give more details about this definition " research approach is of three types deductive inductive and abductive "

https://research-methodology.net/research-methodology/research-approach/ read the differences on this link

Ahmed Younes

It is beneficial to check the books and articles of John W Creswell, particularly;

Creswel, J. W. (2009). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Los angeles: University of Nebraska–Lincoln.‏

I would say that the approach is your strategy, in general terms, and the method is the specifics, going into detail.

The demarcation line differentiating the concepts such as approach, method, and technique was nicely explained by Edward Anthony a very long time ago. While research approach is axiomatic and relates to the existing theories guiding research, research method is mostly implementational showing the maps of action for doing research.

Scientific research is the scientific method or scientific culture, which is the way that scientists (group) or researcher (individual) in the development of the rules of science and conclusion through those rules that have been developed and can also be supplemented by the study and can be supplemented. Are subject to certain principles and methods in order for the methodology of scientific research to be correct.

In research work Method and approach depend on type of work. For example collection of sample and analysis depend on method. Whereas software use is a approach.

Specially in Engineering there are three major approaches to solve the problem. Analytical, Numerical and Experimental. whereas Method refers to any innovative practice/innovative combination of tools to solve the problem. Method can be individual centric. Approaches are universal.

Research method indicate technology used. Research approach - how best out come used.

The research method is research methods are used to define the topic of the research and to establish a deeper understanding about it whereas, research methodology is a systematic approach to collect and evaluate data in the research process.

I think one way to better understand the difference between research concepts is to consider their levels of significance in research. In that regard, I think we can say that the highest level if the world view (paradigmatic philosophy, e.g. interpretivism), followed by methodology (approach, e.g. quantitative), followed by design (method, e.g, case study) etc

Research methods can be referred to all those methods or techniques that are used for conduction of research, whereas, research approach means how the research is done. There are two basic approaches to research, i.e. quantitative approach involving the generation of data in a quantitative form and qualitative approach which is concerned with assessment of attitudes and opinions.

I would highly recommend to check Saunders et al. (2007) research onion ring. These two terms have been conceptually used as similar words. However, they are quite different. Here is a presentation that differenciate these two approaches:

http://www.schwaferts.de/skripten/Saunders_Research_Onion.pdf

TLDR;

- Design: A set of tools/techniques that turns your research into project.

- Approach: A set of technique used to infer, analyze and extract knowledge from other observations.

I chose these definitions for my thesis.

Ahmed Younes Check this document, it might be helpful

https://us.sagepub.com/sites/default/files/upm-binaries/55588_Chapter_1_Sample_Creswell_Research_Design_4e.pdf

Method and scientific approach are quite different. After scientific approach method can be develoved . Method is a procesure where as scientific approach is try to get some result.

Research approach should include all resources which can facilitate or help to accomplish research methods, such as ( It can be Research articles, Journals, Lab equipment, Software, samples, reagents, human resource- professors or academicians, lab animals, research funding) etc., where as research method is scientific tool which consume research approach. Research approach is more much broader context than research method because it is very specific.

It makes me confused about what the two terms are but most researchers used them interchangeably, therefore if anyone, please share me.

A methodology is specific and follow step by step procedure to solve the problem whereas approach is generalised and tell how one has to go to solve the problem.

There is research design and research methods, and research approach falls under the spectrum of research design