Research philosophy examines the origins, nature, and development of knowledge. It defines an individual’s perspective on the methodologies used for collecting, analyzing, and utilizing data related to a topic. 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
1) Ontology: What is truth/reality?
2) Epistemology: What is the basis for your knowledge?
3) Methodology: What is your approach to discover it?
Ontology
Ontology is the discipline that examines the essence of reality. Ontology pertains to the essential inquiry regarding our perception of social entities as either objective or subjective. Positivism and Subjectivism are two essential components of ontology that require consideration. An ongoing ontological inquiry is the existence of God. This question can be viewed from two perspectives: one affirms the existence of God, while the other denies it.
Epistemology
A discipline within philosophy scrutinizes the foundations of knowledge. Epistemology explores the various dimensions of knowledge within a particular field, including its possibilities, characteristics, sources, and limitations. Epistemology involves a critical examination of the standards utilized by scholars to determine the nature of knowledge and its boundaries. An essential question in the realm of epistemology is: “What methods can we employ to determine the existence of God?”

Research Methodology
It explores the process of uncovering the truth or finding answers. Data collection and analysis are required for this. In order to describe the steps involved in doing research and guarantee the quality of the results, a research methodology is essential.
Types of Research Paradigms
Our perceptions and interpretations of information impact our study methodology, directing our observations and thoughts. These conceptual frameworks or models, sometimes referred to as paradigms, greatly influence how we see the world. Thomas Kuhn (1962) popularized the term “paradigm” with his book The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. In order to identify common patterns that impact scientific progress, Kuhn examined the development of the natural sciences in this book.
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 concept of positivism was introduced by philosopher and sociologist Auguste Comte in the early 19th century. Positivists believe that a single reality exists that can be measured and acknowledged.
Consequently, they are more inclined to use quantitative methodologies in their research. Typically, positivists propose a hypothesis that can be empirically evaluated and either validated or disproved through statistical data analysis. Positivism emphasizes on the relationship between two variables instead than investigating the root causes.
Interpretivism
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 collection 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 contends that scientific approaches are not adequate for evaluating human behavior. Interpretivism argues for the use of qualitative approaches, including participant observation and unstructured interviews, to examine 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
Constructivism 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.” Concerned, “Why do 25% of the employees of a company often arrive late to work?” a more qualitative method of social science study, as opposed to merely determining the correlation between two variables.
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. Pragmatists commonly integrate positivist and constructivist concepts in their research projects, adopting a combination of qualitative and quantitative methodologies to study various elements of a research subject.
It is believed that the most effective research methods are those that most effectively address the study 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
A philosophical philosophy known as subjectivism holds that the only basis for truth is one’s own 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 argue that Individuals’ perspectives and behaviors influence societal phenomena. 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 research philosophy argues that reality exists irrespective of how people think. This philosophical area of epistemology relies on the notion of a scientific methodology for knowledge gain.
Direct realism and critical realism are two distinct forms 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
Conversely, critical realism posits that individuals authentically perceive the images and sensations of the real world. Critical realism posits that images and sensations of the real world may be deceptive and frequently fail to represent reality.
Framework for Paradigms of Research
Sr No | Paradigm | Ontology (What is reality?) | Epistemology (How can I know reality?) | Methodology (What methods and techniques are used?) |
1 | Positivism | Reality is one single truth that exists independently (very realistic). | Reality can be measured using objective tools. | Quantitative methods: Experiments, surveys, questionnaires, focus groups, interviews, sampling, statistical analysis, measurement tools. |
2 | Interpretivism | There is no single reality. People create reality through their experiences and views. | We must interpret reality to understand it. | Qualitative methods: Ethnography, grounded theory, phenomenology, action research, discourse analysis, case studies, observations (participant and non-participant), interviews. |
3 | Pragmatism | Reality is what works in practice. It changes based on what is useful in a situation. | Knowledge is gained by solving real-life problems. The goal is to create change or improvement. | Mixed methods: Using both qualitative and quantitative approaches (e.g., action research, surveys + interviews) — whatever helps best in solving a research question. |
4 | Constructivism | Reality is built by individuals through their experiences and social interactions. | We gain knowledge by exploring how people make meaning of their world. | Qualitative methods: Interviews, observations, case studies, narrative research, focus groups — to understand people’s views and experiences. |
5 | Subjectivism | Reality is based on personal beliefs and feelings. | All knowledge depends on how we perceive or feel about it. | Text-based and interpretive methods: Discourse theory, deconstruction, literary analysis, intertextuality — often used in language, culture, and media studies. |
6 | Realism | Reality is shaped by society and its structures. It is influenced by power, culture, and class. | Knowledge and truth are affected by social systems and power relations. | Critical and interpretive methods: Critical discourse analysis, critical ethnography, action research, focus groups, open-ended interviews, ideological reviews, reflective 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.