Processual vs. Procedural — What's the Difference?

Processual anthropology refers to an approach emphasizing the processes of cultural and social evolution to understand societies, focusing on how cultures change over time. In contrast, procedural is commonly associated with the specific, established methods followed in legal, administrative, or business settings to ensure fairness and consistency. This difference highlights the application areas of both terms, with processual used more in anthropological or sociological contexts, while procedural is often found in settings where methodical precision is required.

Processual methods are dynamic, often adapting to the changing understanding of societal structures. They are typically used in academic studies where cultural transitions over periods are examined. Procedural methods, on the other hand, are rigid and are designed to provide a consistent approach regardless of context. This rigidity is crucial in environments like courts or administrative processes where standardization is key.

In the realm of archaeology, processual archaeology seeks to explain social, economic, and cultural changes as processes, often using scientific methods and theories from other disciplines. Conversely, procedural knowledge in areas like software development refers to the knowledge of how to perform certain tasks, often documented as standard operating procedures.

Processual approaches are often criticized for being too theoretical and not taking into account individual or small-scale variations. Whereas, procedural approaches can be criticized for being too inflexible, not allowing for discretion or adaptation in unique situations.

Processual and procedural also differ in their philosophical underpinnings; processualism often involves a more interpretative, evolving viewpoint that seeks to understand underlying processes in cultures or organizations. Proceduralism, however, focuses on adherence to rules and a predefined series of steps to maintain order and efficiency.