Research Paradigms: Philosophy of Research

Introduction

• Focus on two main research paradigms: Positivism and Post-positivism
• Post-positivism includes:
  • Interpretivism (Constructivism)
  • Pragmatism
• Importance of understanding three underlying terms:
  • Ontology
  • Epistemology
  • Methodology

Key Terminologies

Ontology

• Concerned with being or reality
• Claims about the nature of social reality
• Answers: What is existence? What do we want to know?

Epistemology

• Focus on gaining knowledge of social reality
• Establishes the relationship between researcher and reality
• Answers: How can we know about social reality?

Methodology

• Process and methods to understand social reality
• Appropriate research design principles
• Answers: What procedures are used to acquire knowledge?

Research Paradigms

1. Positivism

• Concept originated by Auguste Comte in the 19th century
• Knowledge acquisition through scientific methods
• Focus on:
  • Scientific truth
  • Experimentation
  • Objectivity
  • Quantitative methodology
• Ontological belief: Reality is tangible (provable by senses)
• Epistemological belief: Knowledge is gained scientifically; investigator and investigated are independent
• Methodology: Quantitative research design

2. Interpretivism (Constructivism)

• Philosophical perspective on how humans interpret or construct the social and psychological world
• Based on critical reality that combines empirical evidence with logical reasoning
• Characteristics: Qualitative, subjective, humanistic, critical realism
• Ontological belief: Multiple realities; context-bound variations
• Epistemology: Subjective; co-creation of understanding between knower and respondent
• Methodology: Qualitative, naturalistic interpretation

3. Pragmatism

• Focused on practical issues; goals-driven rather than rules
• Fallibilists: View knowledge as practical and useful
• Can combine positivism and interpretivism methods based on the research question
• Ontological belief: Multi-dimensional, practical, context-based reality
• Epistemology: Knowledge gained in a practical way
• Methodology: Mixed method design (qualitative and quantitative)

Summary of Differences

• Quick view of differences between Positivism and Post-positivism

Conclusion

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