Research Paradigms in Education

What are the philosophical foundations of research and research paradigms or world views such as positivism, post-positivism, interpretivism, constructivism and pragmatism?

• Positivism emphasizes subjective experiences
• The philosophical foundations of research paradigms include positivism (objective reality), post-positivism (acknowledgment of knowledge limitations), interpretivism (subjective understanding), constructivism (knowledge construction), and pragmatism (practical application).
• Constructivism denies the existence of any reality
• Pragmatism focuses solely on theoretical knowledge

What is the significance of research methodology in empirical studies?

• It helps in formulating hypotheses without data.
• The significance of research methodology in empirical studies lies in its role in ensuring validity, reliability, and systematic data analysis.
• It is only necessary for qualitative studies.
• It has no impact on the outcomes of the research.

What are the assumptions of epistemology, ontology, and axiology in research?

• Epistemology assumes knowledge is innate; ontology assumes reality is a construct of the mind; axiology assumes values are universal and fixed.
• Epistemology assumes knowledge is absolute; ontology assumes reality is subjective; axiology assumes values are irrelevant to research.
• Epistemology assumes knowledge is purely empirical; ontology assumes reality is unknowable; axiology assumes values are determined by scientific methods.
• Epistemology assumes knowledge is socially constructed; ontology assumes an independent reality; axiology assumes values influence research.

What role does post-positivism play in the inclusion of social sciences in the realm of science?

What are the key characteristics of interpretivism in research?

What is the premise of interpretive researchers regarding access to reality?

What methods do interpretivists employ to generate qualitative data?

What is the goal of a constructivist in research?

What does pragmatism embrace in research designs?

What is a research design?