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Research Paradigms
Research Seminar
(1/2 of book complete with this PP)
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Research Paradigm

Defined as the understanding of what one can know about
something & how one can gather knowledge about it

3 broad paradigms
1.
Positivist
2.
Post-Positivist
3.
Interpretivist
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Positivism

Dominant research paradigm of the
past century

Philosopher proponents include
Aristotle, Francis Bacon, Rene
Descartes, Auguste Comte, Thomas
Hobbes, David Hume, John Stuart
Mill, Emile Durkheim

Synonymous with empiricism,
objectivism, scientific method,
naturalist approach
Tenets
of
Positivism
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1.
Realist, foundationalist epistemology
2.
The world exists independently of our knowledge of it
3.
There are patterns, regularities, cause & effect in social
world just as there are in the natural world
4.
Causal statements can be researched and made
5.
Scientific method can be used to analyze the social world
6.
The scientific method is neutral along with the researchers.
7.
Emphasis is on explanation in social research so that
predictions can be made
8.
Observation and verification are key to the positivist
paradigm
9.
They seek objectivity in research
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Tenets of Positivism (continued)
10.
Theories are used to generate hypotheses, which can be
tested by direct observation.
11.
There is no dichotomy between how things really are and
what we see (they are the same)
12.
The world is real and not mediated by our senses nor
socially constructed
13.
Positivism rejects question of values and words such as
trust, honesty
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Tenets of Interpretivism
1.
This paradigm is based on an anti-foundationalist
epistemology
2.
The world does not exist independently of our knowledge
of it
3.
The world is socially constructed through the interaction of
individuals, so the separation of facts & value is not clear
cut
4.
The emphasis is on understanding
5.
They do not rely on mere observation for understanding
social phenomena
6.
Social and natural sciences are distinct from one another
and should have different methodologies
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Interpretivism (continued)
7.
Social phenomena do not exist independently of our
interpretation of them, and these interpretations affect
outcomes
8.
Researchers are part of the social reality being researched;
cannot be detached from the subject they are studying
9.
Objective, value-free analysis is impossible because
knowledge is coming from a researcher with his/her
personal opinions, attitudes, values
10.
This paradigm is about interpretation of meaning
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Post-Positivist Paradigm (also
called Critical Realism)
1.
This paradigm shares a foundationalist epistemology
with positivism and interpretist view of research
2.
Social sciences can use the same methods as natural
science in order to explain, but it must provide an
interpretive understanding
3.
Post-positivists seek to explain and understand the
social world
4.
Social change and conflict in society are not always
apparent or observable
5.
Causation has nothing to do with the number of times
we have observed it happening. It depends on
identifying causal mechanisms & how they work and if
the cause has been activated.
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Post-Modernism Influence
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Ontological position that view traditional knowledge with
skepticism
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It’s also called deconstructivism.

It reflects a decline of absolutes
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The only truth is that there is no one truth
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Relativist position
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Feminist Influence

Anti-foundationalist ontological position which challenges
the male-centered nature of research in general

This approach does not believe in value-free or objective
research
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Feminists can use a post-modern approach