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Research ParadigmsHonors RMD February 2012
Research paradigms
Broadly speaking the are two dominant views or paradigms over the nature of knowledge and how it is developed (Epistemology).
• Positivism (scientific method) and • Interpretivism.
Note: They are often in warring camps.Some see these oppositions as false and detrimentalto research.
PARADIGMS OF SOCIAL RESEARCH
COMPLEXITYTHEORY
INTERPRETIVE
MIXED METHODS POST-POSITIVIST
POST-STRUCTURALIST
POST-MODERNIST
POSITIVIST
Cohen et al, 2011
Positivism
Positivism is a philosophy states that the only authentic knowledge is scientific knowledge, and that such knowledge can only come from positive affirmation of theories through strict scientific method.
Positivism refers to the school of thought that the only ‘true’ or valid form of knowledge is that which is ‘scientific’.
The principles and methods of the natural sciences (such as chemistry or physics) are used to study human behaviour, which in itself is objective and tangible in nature.
The researcher can observe human behaviour and measure ‘facts’, and ‘laws’ or theories of behaviour can be developed.
Concepts such as feelings, emotions, beliefs and so on have no place in research as they cannot be directly observed or measured, they are unreliable and they are not constant over time.
POSITIVISM
POSITIVISM- cont
Positivists attempt to mirror the methods of the natural and physical scientists.
Through observing reality you can produce laws of the social world which can be generalised from one context to another
Your role is to be an objective analyst, collecting data and interpreting it in a value free way.
You are detached, neither affect nor are affected by the
subject of your research.
Emphasise the quantifiable, the observable, and replication (the ability to repeat research)
Interpretivism
Interpretivism, is a way to gain insights through discovering meanings by improving our comprehension of the whole. Qualitative research explores the richness, depth, and complexity of phenomena.
Interpretivism emphasises -
That the world is too complex to be reduced to a series of law-like generalisations.
the uniqueness of people, and circumstances and the constant nature of change.
details matter - in an attempt to better understand reality.
subjective reality matters.
Features of research paradigmsPositivistic paradigm Interpretivist paradigm
World is external and objective World is socially constructed and subjective
Observer is independent Observer is part of what is being observed
Science is value free Science is driven by human interests
Look for causality Understand what is happening
Reduce phenomena to simple elements Look at totality of each situation
Focus on facts Focus on meaning
Generalises from sample to population Generalises from one setting to another
Tends to produce quantitative data Tends to produce qualitative data
The location is artificial The location is natural
Concerned with hypothesis testing Concerned with generating theories
Easterby Smit, et al, 2004
Criticism – Positivist research Reduces nature and life into measureable terms
and ignore notions of individuality, freedom, and moral responsibility
Fails to take into account our unique ability to interpret the world
Regards human behaviour as passive, and control Findings are general not related to the real word as
research is conducted in control conditions
Criticism - Interpretivist research Abandons the scientific procedures of verification
and generalisation Overlooks fact that the very process of observation
and interpretation that researchers engage in is it self a product of the circumstances
Focus too narrowly on specific instances and cases
Post positivist research Research is broad rather than specialised – lots of
different things qualify as research; Theory and practice cannot be kept separate. We
cannot afford to ignore theory for the sake of ‘just the facts’;
The researcher’s motivations for and commitment to research are central and crucial to the enterprise
The idea that research is concerned only with correct techniques for collecting and categorising information is now inadequate
Ryan, n.d.
Questions
Comments
Positivist and Interpretivist Research
Research Methodology
Your research approach
Quantitative
Qualitative
Paradigm
Your belief system
Positivist
Interpretivist
How does all this link to the practice of research in education?
Positivist research Research which combines a deductive approach
with precise measurement of quantitative data to enable the discovery and confirmation of causal laws
Interpretivist research Research which combines an inductive approach
with communication and observation of qualitative data to discover the reasons for events.
Few more conceptsbefore a short break
Deductive - begins with an abstract idea and principle and works toward the concrete details to test these ideas. Theory Testing
Inductive - begins with concrete details and
then works toward abstract ideas or general principles or laws. Theory Building
Deductive vs Inductive
REASONING: INDUCTIVE Start with EXAMPLES/OBSERVATION and conclude a
theory/IDEA Moving from specific observations, looking for pattern &
regularities, formulate some possible hypothesis (explanations) and end up with broader generalisations
“Bottom-up approach
Observation
Identify Pattern
Tentative Explanation
Theory
http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/dedind.php
REASONING DEDUCTIVE Start with THEORY/IDEA and apply it to EXAMPLES Moving from THEORY, then narrow it down to specific
HYPOTHESIS (proposed explanation), collect OBSERVATIONS to address the hypothesis. APPLY the knowledge to EXAMPLES
”top-down” approach
Confirmation/ examples
Possible Explanations
Observation
Theory
http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/dedind.php
Why does the approach matter?
Whether you take a scientific (positivistic) or
phenomenological approach will influence:
What research questions you ask
What methods you use to collect your data
What type of data you collect
What techniques you use to analyse your data
Methods
Refers to techniques used in research Survey questionnaires InterviewsObservationsDocument reviewsExperiments
Methodology
refers to more than a simple set of methods refers to the rationale and the philosophical
assumptions that underlie a particular study.
Examples Quantitative Qualitative Mixed methods
Research Design
refers to the blue print that you prepare to conduct your research It lists the steps that you need to take.
tells what is to be done at what time. tells how the goals of a research project can be
accomplished. Key features of any research design include the
methodology and methods sampling, data collection and analysis, procedures and instruments etc.
Questions
Comments
The Philosophical Position….
Positivism Phenomenology
Ontology: what is thenature of reality?
Epistemology:What is validknowledge?
Axiology:Role of values
RESEARCHSTRATEGY
Reality is objective andsingular, apart from theresearcher
Researcher is independentfrom that being researched
Value free and un-biased
• Cross-sectional studies• Experimental studies• Longitudinal studies• Surveys• Etc...
Reality is subjectiveand multiple as seenby the participants
Researcher interactswith that being researched
Value-laden and biased
• Action Research• Case Studies• Ethnography• Grounded Theory• Hermeneutics, etc...
What is a Theory?
A set of statements or principles devised to explain some phenomena, especiallyone that has been repeatedly tested or is widely accepted and can be used to make predictions about the
phenomena.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/theory