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PARADIGMS OF RESEARCH AND RESEARCH PHILOSOPHY
Citations:
Dileep Kumar M. (2022). Paradigms Of Research and Research Philosophy. Nigerian Literary Copyright,
Nigerian Commission of Copyrights, No: LW11706 02/08/2022.
Paradigms of research
Research is a way of investigation. Researchers are constantly engaged in exploring the unknown factors
related to every phenomenon under investigation. The investigators’ role is to look at what we know, what
we can know, and how we can know it. Commitment to arrive at a set of assumptions based on a consensus
of assumptions about looking at phenomena and operating philosophies that investigators on the ground
follow unquestioningly is varied from one group of researchers to another. There is speculation around the
groups of assumptions or paradigms in several fields of science. The validity of the observations or the
findings made by the researchers is henceforth decided by the underlying assumptions, operating
philosophies, designs, methods, tools, and standards used by the researchers with varied paradigms. The
term paradigms of research, henceforth, defines the broad view of looking at the world, or the roots of
ideas, that supports the research scholars' comprehension and description of something, frequently
associated with a specific subject. A paradigm decides the thought patterns of the world, which integrate
the designs, methods, tools, and theories to set principles for what establishes genuine contributions to a
field. The diagram illustrates clearly that every research journey starts from the assumptions and beliefs
generated by past research scholars on the phenomenon under study.
Research Philosophy
A belief about gathering, analyzing, and using data on a phenomenon under investigation is termed as a
"research philosophy." To understand research philosophy, researchers have to realize the difference
between "what is known to be true’ and "what is believed to be true." Researchers initially have to look
into the realities which are linked to the problem. Researchers should ask the question, "What is the
reality?" An answer to this question will lead to "ontological assumptions" about reality. A literature
review gives direction to the researchers to understand whether the reality under the study is objective or
subjective.
Ontology
The ontology can be objective or subjective. The objective realities are measurable, or those that are
tangible in nature. While subjective realities are observable in nature since they are intangible in nature,
Researchers should follow the positivist research philosophy when the reality/s attached to the
phenomenon is objective and measurable. On the other hand, researchers should follow an interpretivist
research philosophy when the reality/s attached to the phenomenon is subjective and measurable. If all the
constructs under study are available from the literature, and henceforth measurement of those constructs’
relationships is possible, then the researchers have to follow positivist ontology. A prediction on isolated
phenomena can be made and is based on repetitive explanations and past interrelations. If all the constructs
under study are less available from the literature, and henceforth only observation of the phenomenon is
possible, then the researchers have to follow an interpretivist ontology. On the other hand, the interpretivist
believes that a phenomenon needs to be studied in its actual environment and that there is less scope for
generalization of findings. Prediction Based on repeated observations, which are impossible due to
variations in the context and subjects. The ontology decides the approach to be followed by the researchers.
Epistemology
Researchers should ask the next question, "What approach should be followed by the researcher for
investigation on known ontology?". This question will inform the researcher what the "epistemology" of
the research is. The concern regarding different types of knowledge is known as epistemology. The
epistemology prospects are based on how this information is generated, transferred, fostered, gained, and
transmitted. To understand epistemology, researchers have to know the terms "doksa" and "episteme.".
"What is believed to be true" is termed "doksa," and "what is known to be true" is "episteme." Hence, the
journey of research or investigation of phenomena will take the lead from "doxology to epistemology."
During the research process, the research phenomenon is transformed into the truth. An understanding of
the researcher’s purpose in conducting his/her research is important to identify the epistemology.
Epistemology is leading the research scholars to identify the design of the research. Positivist philosophy
follows quantitative research methods since the constructs are definable and measurable with the support
of standardized questionnaires. The relationship between the constructs can henceforth be established for
generalization and prediction. In order to establish the prediction between the constructs, the researchers
have to select definable constructs, measurements, and theories. Theories support the researcher's ability
to test the relationship between causative and effectual constructs. The interpretivist philosophy follows
the qualitative research method since the constructs are indefinable and unmeasurable. The relationship
between the constructs can henceforth not be established for generalization and prediction. The purpose
of such research designs is to understand and interpret.
Researchers have several choices in the selection of methods in qualitative research. Based on the purpose
of research, researchers can choose methods like narratives, ethnography, grounded theory,
phenomenology, decision trains, semiotics, case studies, etc. Researchers have to use various tools to
collect and analyze data from the field when applying quantitative and qualitative research designs.
Quantitative research must follow statistical tools like descriptive and inferential statistics to analyze and
predict the relationship between constructs. Since the constructs are explainable and deduced from a
theory, the quantitative researchers follow deductive designs. While qualitative researchers must make use
of interviews, observation, content analysis, reflexive journals, etc. to arrive at an understanding and
interpretation of the phenomenon under study. Since the constructs are more explorable and they will be
added in the later part of the research, viz. during research progression, the qualitative researchers follow
inductive designs. The diagram clearly indicates that quantitative researchers follow deductive study
designs and qualitative researchers follow an inductive research approach.
Axiology
Finally, the research philosophy is also associated with the axiology of the research. The researcher
answers the "value proportion of the study". The term axiology indicates the philosophical value or
goodness of observations. Axiology details whether the study design followed by the research is value-
laden or value-free, and it comprises queries about the nature and organization of values. The axiology
decides the kind of study where the researchers have to eliminate their preconceived notions and biases
that may creep into the study. According to the positivist, all inquiries should be value-free, which means
that quantitative researchers must detach from the field of study to ensure the observation's external
validity. On the other hand, qualitative research is value-laden or presupposes the acceptance of a particular
set of values, and henceforth the researchers must be attached to the phenomenon to understand and
interpret the observations in a more reliable way.
The "PARADIGMS OF RESEARCH AND RESEARCH PHILOSOPHY" model clearly illustrate a
detailed understanding of paradigms of research, research philosophy, ontology, epistemology, axiology,
deductive and inductive designs, methods, and tools of research.
