A Comparative Study of Methodology and Theory from the Perpectives of Quantitative and Qualitative Researches Focusing on Theorization in Architecture

Scholars believe that those who want to theorize should possess two types of specialized knowledge: knowledge of a phenomenon about which they want to theorize and knowledge of methodologies of theorization. Codifying the method of research is a separate branch of science which is called methodology. Methodology is a knowledge which focuses on processes and tools applied in the system of knowledge accumulation and the procedures of applying it. This knowledge can be considered as the translation of a paradigm’s principles into the language of research methodology. Accordingly, two main approaches to methodology, that are quantitative and qualitative, can be distinguished. On the other hand, theory, in its most fundamental form, is a kind of model. Theory was created when man used logic instead of myth in confrontation with realities and tried to discover cause and effect relations between phenomena. Moreover, theory summarizes the past, animates the present and elucidates the future. Nowadays, each scientific discipline needs an appropriate definition of theory and the field of architecture is not an exception. Architects and designers face with theory in different fields but, comparing with other disciplines, the scope and borders of theory in architecture are not very clear. The application of theory in architecture requires an exact and deep knowledge of theory and paying attention to its characteristics.By a comparative-analytical investigation of the subject and studying the books, articles and authentic sources in the fields of methodology and theorization, this article aims to explore two key concepts of method and theory in applied researches and elucidate various meanings of the two concepts from quantitative and qualitative perspectives. Furthermore, it investigates the characteristics of architecture theory in order that the features of theory in architecture are understood better.