Method

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Method is a systematic procedure for a particular information manipulation process that is needed as a part of an assessment work. Method is the basic building block for describing the assessment work (not reality, like the other universal objects). In practice, methods are "how-to-do" descriptions about how information should be produced, collected, analysed, or synthesised in an assessment. Some methods can be about managing other methods.

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Research question about the structure of a method

What is a structure for a method such that it

• applies to any method that may be needed in any assessment work,
• enables a detailed enough description so that the work can be performed based on it,
• complies with the structure of the universal objects.

The attributes and subattributes of a method are the following:

• Name
• Scope
  • Purpose
  • Boundaries (related to the part of reality that the method deals with)
• Definition
  • Input (data types, formats, and sources)
  • Output (data types and formats)
  • Rationale (why the presented procedure fulfills the purpose)
• Procedure
  • (Management process of the method) (this can be described under procedure or as a method of its own)