|
|
Ontology: what is the nature of reality? |
Epistemology: How do we know reality? What is the
relationship between the inquirer and what is known? |
Methods: What techniques do we use to gain
knowledge about the world? |
Research Purposes |
|
Positivism |
Real, apprehendable reality Naïve realism |
Dualist,
objectivist Findings are
true |
Experimental,
manipulative, verification of hypotheses, primarily quantitative methods |
Explanation,
enabling prediction and control of phenomena |
|
Post-Positivism |
Critical
realism: “real” reality but only imperfectly and probabalistically
apprehendable |
Modified
dualist/objectivist Findings are
probably true |
Modified
experimental/manipulative Falsification of
hypotheses Can include both
quantitative and qualitative methods |
Explanation, enabling
prediction and control of phenomena |
|
Interpetivism/ Constructivism/ Participatory |
Relativism:
local and specific constructed realities |
Transactional/subjectivist Co-created
findings |
Interpretivist; emergent Primarily
qualitative, but can include descriptive quantitative methods |
Understanding
& reconstruction, aiming toward open-ended consensus and/or action |
|
Emancipatory/ Deconstruction |
Historical
realism: virtual reality shaped by social, political, cultural, economic,
ethnic and gender values |
Transactional;
subjectivist Value-mediated
findings |
Dialogic/dialectical Primarily
qualitative methods, firmly rooted in related critical theory literature |
Critique &
transformation of the social, political, cultural, economic, ethnic &
gender structures that constrain & exploit humankind, but engaging in
confrontation, even conflict.” (Lincoln & Denzin) |
Research Paradigms: Ontology,
Epistemology, Methods and Purposes
From an interactive lecture
by Dr.