The Basic Idea behind Mismethodology:  Research methods are creative and interesting.  Any "traditional" research method was once unorthodox.  It is more interesting and generative to learn about research methods by thinking about the controversies than it is to learn lists of procedure.  (Although if you want to try most methods you'll have to eventually learn procedure too.)

Mismethodology was created as a way to organize and discuss lists of controversies involving research methods in the social sciences and the humanities.  Mismethodology was also created to support the graduate Seminar on Unorthodox Research Methods in the social sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 

The site includes examples of research where

the methods are interesting

the methods are controversial or provocative

the research is (vaguely) relevant to the social sciences and/or the humanities

the study can start a discussion about research design

The submissions for this site come from colleagues and collaborators.  Please submit if you know of an item that should be listed here.

This Site is Not About

Mismethodology is not about research misconduct -- or anyway it is not about boring examples of research misconduct that don't meet the criteria above.

It is also not about narrow debates about research methods, or statistical debates.  For example, a discussion about whether or not there is a reasonable rationale for alpha adjustment techniques is a question that is too much about statistical procedure and not enough about research design.

It is not meant to be a big list of jokes or fiascoes (though there are some).  There are some brilliant ideas here!

While many of the items are about research ethics, they don't have to be.  The main emphasis here is intended to be research design.

The Images

The site's logo images are taken from an untitled, undated historical theater poster, courtesy oldeyankee on flickr.  (The poster is descriptively titled "Explosion in rock formation with people running, man diving into water, and woman in water.")  More images from the poster appear below. 

 
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