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