Research philosophy or paradigms of research explores the origins, characteristics, and growth of knowledge. Simply, research philosophy refers to one’s perspective on how data about a phenomenon should be gathered, examined, and applied. While the concept of knowledge creation may seem profound, you are actively involved in knowledge creation through your dissertation. You will gather both secondary and primary data and analyze it to address the research question, generating new knowledge.
Philosophical Perspectives in Research
Ontology – What is reality?
Epistemology – How do you know something?
Methodology – How do you find it out?
Ontology
Ontology is the science or study that investigates the nature of reality. Ontology is connected to the fundamental question of how we view social entities, objective or subjective. Positivism and Subjectivism are two crucial aspects of ontology that deserve attention. A classic ontological question is the existence of God. There are two possible perspectives when considering this question: one believes in the existence of God, while the other does not.
Epistemology
One area of philosophy focuses on the origins of knowledge. Epistemology focuses on exploring the various aspects of knowledge within a particular field of study, including its possibilities, nature, sources, and limitations. In other words, Epistemology can be described as the examination of the standards used by researchers to determine what is considered knowledge and what is not. A classic epistemological question is: “How can we determine the existence of God?”
Research Methodology
It explores the process of uncovering the truth or finding answers. This involves the collection and analysis of data. A research methodology is crucial in outlining the process of conducting research and ensuring the validity of the findings.
Types of Research Paradigms
Our research approach is influenced by how we perceive and interpret information, guiding our thinking and observations. These mental models or frames, known as paradigms, play a significant role in shaping our perspectives. The term “paradigm” gained popularity thanks to Thomas Kuhn (1962) and his book The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. In this work, Kuhn looked into the history of the natural sciences to uncover recurring patterns that influence the advancement of science.
Similar concepts can be applied to the field of social sciences, where individuals may perceive and interpret social realities in various ways. These different perspectives can influence how they think and reason about the phenomena they observe.
The paradigms of research are “the set of common beliefs and agreements shared between scientists about how problems should be understood and addressed” (Kuhn, 1962). Following are the common types of research paradigms.
Positivism
The information is collected using scientific methods. There is simply no alternative method to extract information except science. The knowledge is built upon rigorous scientific methods. This is an excellent resource for acquiring knowledge. The term positivism was coined by the philosopher and sociologist Auguste Comte in the early 19th century. Positivists assert that there is a singular reality that can be quantified and recognized.
As a result, they are more likely to utilize quantitative methods in their research. Usually, positivists put forward a hypothesis that can be tested and either proven or disproven through statistical data analysis. Positivism is one of the paradigms of research that focuses on exploring the correlation between two variables rather than looking into the underlying causes.
Interpretivism / Constructivism
People’s ideologies can vary. There may be some conflicting viewpoints. It’s fascinating to see how individuals approach rituals and events based on their unique perspectives. Through these discussions, individuals can derive various interpretations, which can lead to the acquisition of reliable information.
An interviewer shapes the ideas based on their own interpretations. Interpretivists believe that individuals are complicated and complex beings, not merely passive entities responding to external social influences.
They believe that people perceive reality differently and exhibit diverse behaviors. Thus, interpretivism argues that scientific methods are not suitable for analyzing human behavior. Interpretivism advocates for the use of qualitative methods, such as participant observation and unstructured interviews, to analyze human behavior and society.
In addition, interpretivists argue that social interactions shape our understanding of the world. They view knowledge as being shaped by discourses, ideas, and experiences rather than being objective or value-free.
Constructivism/Interpretivism is rooted in the understanding that human behavior and actions are shaped by the unique experiences individuals have within society and their personal perceptions of it. People express their ideas based on various norms, values, and factors.
Through the lens of constructivism, new things and ideas are constantly emerging. Within our society, numerous aspects derive their significance from their inherent nature. For example, during the summer, when someone experiences the warm weather and comments on how hot it is today, this observation can be understood from a constructivist perspective.
Constructivists argue that there are multiple realities, rejecting the notion of a single truth or reality. They are dedicated to understanding and interpreting the significance related to an action. Due to this rationale, constructivists frequently use qualitative research methods, such as interviews or case studies, to emphasize diverse viewpoints.
Constructivism is one of the paradigms of research that seeks to address the question of “why.” Asking, “Why do 25% of the employees of an organisation regularly arrive late to work?” instead of just establishing the relationship between two variables is a more qualitative approach to social research.
Pragmatism
Pragmatists view that reality is constantly being interpreted and reevaluated in response to new and unexpected situations. Due to this, the approach they use in research is determined by the specific research question. It is one of the paradigms of research that frequently integrate positivist and constructivist principles in their research projects, employing a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods to explore various aspects of a research problem.
The belief is that the most effective research methods are the ones that best address the research question. In this regard, it holds the belief that reality is constantly being reevaluated, discussed, and understood, and thus, the most effective approach is the one that resolves the issue at hand.
Subjectivism
Subjectivism is a philosophical theory that suggests truth is solely based on personal experience. If someone is solely relying on their own thoughts and perspectives when interpreting a specific event or information, this can be described as subjectivism. For example, suppose a woman loses her gold by theft. In that case, she tells her neighbor about the ratio of stolen gold, but when the discussion passes in the town, in the end, the ratio of stolen gold increases because of subjectivism.
Subjectivism is one of the paradigms of research that suggests that social phenomena are shaped by the perceptions and actions of the individuals involved. Nevertheless, the interpretation of this matter relies on the individual’s perceptions, understandings, feelings, and experiences. Every individual has their own unique opinions, feelings, and perceptions.
Realism
All knowledge is acquired through the five senses. This was the first school of thought to provide knowledge. The realism is an other paradigms of research, based on the concept that reality exists independently of the human mind. As a branch of epistemology, this philosophy is based on the assumption of a scientific approach to knowledge development.
Direct and Critical realism are two different types of realism.
Direct Realism
It can be described as a straightforward approach where perception reflects reality as it is. In short, direct realism presents the world as it is perceived through our own human senses.
Critical Realism
On the other hand, critical realism argues that humans genuinely experience the images and sensations of the real world. According to critical realism, images and sensations of the real world can be misleading and often fail to accurately represent reality.
Framework for Paradigms of Research
| Sr No | Paradigms of Research | Ontology What is reality? | Epistemology How can I know reality? | Methodology What methods and techniques need to be adopted? |
| 1 | Positivism | There exists a single reality of truth (more realistic). | Reality can be measured; hence the emphasis is on accurate and valid tools to do so. | Experimental research, Survey research. Usually quantitative, could include: Sampling, Measurement and scaling, Statistical analysis, Questionnaire, Focus group Interview |
| 2 | Constructivism / Interpretivism | There is no singular reality or truth. Individuals in groups construct reality (less realists). | Therefore, reality must be interpreted. It is used to assess the underlying significance of activities and events. | Ethnography, Grounded Theory, Phenomenological Research, Action Research, Discourse Analysis etc. Usually qualitative, could include: Qualitative interviews, Observation Participant Non-participants, Case studies, etc. |
| 3 | Pragmatism | Reality is constantly reviewed, debated, and interpreted in light of its applicability in a new and unforeseen scenario. | The ideal method is one that resolves issues. Finding out is the means, while change is the ultimate goal. | Mixed methods research, Action research. Combination of any of the above and more. |
| 4 | Subjectivism | Reality is what we believe to be real. | Every knowledge is just a matter of how we perceive it. | Discourse theory, Archaeology, Deconstruction, etc. Literary analysis, Inter-textuality, etc. |
| 5 | Realism | Realities are products of social construction and are hence subject to ongoing internal influences. | Reality and knowledge are shaped by the dynamics of society and the influence of power relations. | Critical discourse analysis, critical ethnography, action research, etc. Ideological review, open-ended interviews, focus groups, and journals. |
Conclusion
The paradigms of research are the essential structured frameworks that direct scientific investigation. Indeed, these paradigms of research offer crucial frameworks for comprehending and investigating the surrounding world. Their contributions encompass a wide range of viewpoints, approaches, and assumptions that influence study procedures and results. By comprehending and embracing suitable paradigms of research, researchers can investigate comprehensive and significant inquiries in several areas of study.
