Research Paradigms and Approaches

Apichoke Lekagul

Research Paradigm

• A system of inquiry

• A complete picture or package of large groups of research

• The whole process from the beginning to the end

• Includes worldview, perspective, position, assumptions, methods and technique

Research Paradigms

Worldview

Perspective

Position

Assumption

Technique

Method

Quantitative Qualitative

Research Paradigm or

System of Inquiry

(Groat & Wang, 2002)

Research Paradigms: Dichotomous Paradigm

• Sciences vs. Myth • Objective vs. Subjective

(Groat & Wang, 2002)

Universe is made up of

small things Coming together

Different/ Apart

Sciences vs. Myth

• Mathematical Description

• Atomistic• Reductionism• Convergent• Mostly used in

technology, engineering and behavioral research

• Mythic or Poetic Description

• Continuous• Holistic• Divergent• Generative• Mostly used in humanity,

art, history and design theory research

Research Paradigms: Quantitative vs. Qualitative (Creswell, 1994)

Major Research Paradigms: • Quantitative paradigm

– Dealing with quantity or number as data

• Qualitative paradigm – Dealing with some quality as data

• Mixed methods (using methods from both paradigms– some quantity and quality)

Quantitative Paradigm

• Traditional research paradigm (of sciences)

• Positivist, post-positivist perspective (Groat & Wang, 2002)

• Comes from empiricist tradition

• Experimental in nature

• Modern perspective

• Objective

Qualitative Paradigm

• A countermovement of the positivist tradition in the late 19th century

• Constructivist/ naturalistic approach (Groat & Wang, 2002)

• Interpretive

• Postmodern perspective

• Subjective

Assumptions of the Paradigms

• Ontological: the nature of being (reality)

• Epistemological: the nature of knowledge

• Axiological: the nature of value and value judgment

• Rhetorical: the use of language

• Methodological: the process

Research Paradigm Assumptions (Creswell, 1994)

Assumptions Question

(what is?)

Quantitative Qualitative

Ontological(nature of reality)

Nature of reality?

Objective & singular, apart from researcher

Subjective & multiple (by participants)

Epistemological(nature of knowledge)

Relationship of researcher and subject?

Researcher is independent from subject

Researcher interact with subject

Axiological Role of value? Value free/ unbiased Value laden/ biased

Rhetorical language of research?

Formal/ impersonal/ specific quantitative words

Informal/ personal/ qualitative words

Methodological Process of research?

Deductive/ cause & effect/ context free/ generalizability

Inductive/ emerging patterns/ context-bound/ understanding

Ontological, Epistemological and Axiological Assumptions

Assumptions Quantitative Qualitative

Ontological(Reality)

Single reality (best solution, optimization, prototype)

Multiple (sides of) realities (by situations of…participants/ subjects)

Epistemological(Researcher’s roles)

Distant view and independent (no relationship between researcher and subjects such as public opinions)

Close distance view and interaction (involving, collaboration)

Axiological(Value and Judgment)

Objective, value-free/ unbiased (general, no side or no personal statement)

Subjective, value laden/ biased (identify position, from the perspective of…)

Deductive and Inductive Process

Deductive• from the general to the

specific

• from an expected pattern to the testing observations

• Theory testing

Inductive• from the specific to the

general

• from a set of observations to the discovery of a pattern

• Theory construction

Common Methods in Quantitative Paradigm

• Experiments– True (Random and Fully Controlled Design)

– Quasi (Non-Random and Limited Control Design)

• Surveys – Cross-section Design

– Longitudinal Design

– Questionnaires

– Measurements

Common Methods in Qualitative Paradigm

• Ethnography – Study groups of people– Observation

• Grounded Theory– Derive a theory using multistage of data collection

and refinement

• Case study – Explore a phenomenon thoroughly in many aspects

• Phenomenological Study– Examines human experiences

Subjective-Objective Continuum of Architectural Research

Groat & Wang, 2002

Subjective Objective

Selection Factors

• Philosophical perspectives• Point of views or beliefs of researchers• Training• Areas of study or society of research• Psychological attributes • Available data• Comfort with rules and procedures• Format of writing

Alternative Scenario of Research

Paradigms

Groat and Wang (2002)

• Positivist/ Post positivist (true and quasi-experiment)

• Naturalist (Interpretive/Constructivist)

• Emancipatory (more specific to roles and groups)

Groat & Wang’s Tripartite(Quantitative) (Qualitative)

Clusters of Systems of Inquiry

Paradigm, Approach, Method and Technique

• Paradigm (System or Inquiry)• Approach (Strategy—Series of Methods)

• Method (A Series of Techniques)• Technique (A Specific Tactic or Procedure)

P

AM

T

Approaches or Strategies

Groat and Wang (2002)• Interpretive-Historical Research (SA) • Qualitative Research (SA) (RO)• Correlational Research (AL) (TW)• Experimental (SS) and Quasi-Experimental

Research (AL) (TW) • Simulation and Modeling Research (EM)• Logical Argumentation• Case Studies and Combined Strategies (NO) (RO)