Name: Mbali Sharon Maseko
Student number: 16
EDS Assignment 2
A paradigm is . It is important to do research as an educator because . I have
chosen interpretivism as a focus because
. interpretivism guides me in my role as
a researcher and scholar.
Define and discuss
An interpretivist paradigm is one of the comprehensive belief systems or framework
that guides research and practice in a field; it states that reality is based on the
human interaction with phenomena. An interpretivist believes that we can gain
knowledge through understanding the meanings of our actions or what happens in
the world.
It is a research approach that emphasizes the need to understand or interpret the
beliefs, motives, and reasons of social actors in order to understand social reality. It
stands by the notion that reality is multi-layered and complex and a single
phenomenon can have multiple interpretations. It is in direct opposition to positivist
approach; positivists prefer scientific quantitative methods, while interpretivists prefer
humanistic qualitative methods.
A humanistic qualitative method refers to the approach which studies the whole
person and the uniqueness of each individual. It emphasises the existential
assumption that people have free will and are motivated to achieve their own
potential and self-actualize; not all behaviour is determined.
This paradigm says all individuals are unique therefore shifting the focus of
behaviour to the individual. This type of data gives genuine insight and more holistic
information into behaviour as it has real life applications, values personal ideas and
self-fulfilment.
Ontology
An interpretive approach requires or follows constructionist ontology. This means
basically understanding how social factors interact as opposed to explaining. The
basis is that there is no single reality or truth, reality is created by individuals in
groups. Therefore the data would exist in an intangible form. Interpretivism is
complex and rich; it is socially constructed through culture and language. It
emphasises multiple meanings, interpretations and realities; and will therefore have
a flux of processes, experiences, practices. Interpretive ontology means there is no
single truth or reality, each and every individual or group creates their own reality. My
ultimate goal as a young educator is to teach learners to become critical thinkers
about changing the world they live in, they need to believe in their own constructed
knowledge to transform their own world and future.
Epistemology
The term interpretivism refers to epistemologies, or theories about how we can gain
knowledge of the world, which loosely rely on interpreting or understanding the
meanings that humans attach to their actions. The epistemology means how we
should be attempting to assess knowledge. Interpretivism has simplistic theories and
concepts, and has focus on narratives, stories, perceptions and interpretations. It
gives new understandings and worldviews as contribution to research. Epistemology
in interpretivism therefore says actuality requires to be explained. Epistemology is
used to find the basic understanding of incidents and pursuits. Social contexts
interaction influences the mental process of interpretation to understand the
incidents. As the researcher in interpretivism I understand that I must interact with
the humans personally, changing their perspective must be what I look forward to do.
I must be able to go beyond from what has occurred to see how it has occurred
concerning their reality and social contexts and knowledge.
Methodology
There are the following methodologies in the epistemology of interpretivism;
ethnography (the study of a particular human society; their customs, habits and
mutual differences) , grounded theory(involves the collection and analysis of data;
theory is grounded in actual data, the analysis and development of theories happens
after data collection) , phenomenal research (focuses on the study of an individuals
lived experiences within the world), action research (a form of self-reflective inquiry
undertaken by participants in social situations in order to improve the rationality and
justice of their own practises and the situations in which the practices are carried
out). Methodology is defined as a system of methods used in a particular area of
study or activity. Interpretivism by its nature promotes the valued of qualitative data
in chasing of knowledge. The purpose of research method I believe is to make the
study results to be interpreted and to show evidence of how it was collected.
Interviews or observation of participants are use as methodologies to orientate
meaning of personal relationship between researcher and subject. Methodology in
interpretivist paradigm, anything can be juts claimed without any valuation of data or
scientific approach because data is collected through observations and interviews.
Axiology
The axiology of interpretivism is the study of value or the theory on the nature of
value. Axiology can incorporate ethics, aesthetics and other forms of value; however,
interpretivism leans more towards the axiology of ethics because it is value bound
research, researchers are part of what is researched, it is subjective, Researcher
reflexive and researcher interpretations are key to contribution. Axiology is the study
of the nature of value and valuations, and of the kinds of things that are valuable.
Teaching of moral values and development of character and the relationship of moral
values is what axiology deals with. Values are defined as stable long-lasting beliefs
about what is important to a person. Education is a key to success, in other words
people need to be educated in other to better their lives. I am that teacher who is
going to teach and make children to view education differently. Teaching values is an
essential part in curriculum. Pupils’ surroundings have an impact on their positivity
and attitude to learning. With strong foundation, children will develop core values on
their own.
The implications of the paradigm
This theory ignores biology because it features not scientific-subjective concepts that
are hard to test. It is behaviourism-human and animal behaviour can be compared.
It is ethnocentric – biased towards western culture which means that it does not
accommodate all cultures. Basic understanding of the terms outlined in this
assignment will enable me to become a competent teacher and researcher in
different projects I participate in. This will enable me to make evidence-based
decisions in my daily dealings. I will also be able to distinguish research which has
confounding factors thus rendering that academic paper biased, deviating from the
truth.
Conclusion
interpretivism taught me that reality is constructed by the way we live, believe and
value some aspects in life. As a researcher, participation, observation experience
and reflecting when dealing with problems and research are what I learnt.
Interpretive ontology says that reality is created, as a teacher I must teach learners
to be critical and independent thinkers and they must believe in their own knowledge
and dwell in their reality. They must know their story, believe in themselves and
strive for change and success. While epistemology in interpretivism states that
knowledge is acquired. As a teacher and a researcher I must be familiar and in line
with extracting, structuring and organising knowledge from sources. It is my duty to
teach learners or kids to be able to seek knowledge that is useful and can assist
them in the future. I am the teacher as a mediator of learning.
The methods to acquire and conduct research in my studies will be qualitative
methods as indicated by interpretivism. Conducting interviews, constructing
questioners, observing some of the things done by participants and non- participants
and reading some case studies is what I must do as a researcher.