Research Methodology: Philosophy of Research PDF

Research Methodology Module: Philosophy of Research PRESENTED BY: DR FATIMA ZAHRA ABBOU MASTER 1 CLASS [email protected]  Class Rules and Expectations Attendance is required. It is unacceptable to arrive late to the classroom. Phones should be turned to silent during the c...

Research Methodology Module: Philosophy of Research PRESENTED BY: DR FATIMA ZAHRA ABBOU MASTER 1 CLASS [email protected]  Class Rules and Expectations Attendance is required. It is unacceptable to arrive late to the classroom. Phones should be turned to silent during the class. Be active in the classroom, including checking regularly your Google Classroom platform. Paradigms, Ontology, Epistemology Assumptions  About the nature of reality being studied (Ontology) About what constitutes knowledge of that reality (Epistemology) Assumptions About what therefore are appropriate ways (or methods) of building knowledge of that reality  What exists/what can be known? (Ontology) Key How can I know it/find out? philosophica (Epistemology) l questions that underpin Each of these questions represents a research philosophical discipline that together represent the research paradigm. Paradigms  A paradigm is simply a belief system (or theory) that guides the way we do things - this can range from what we think to what we do A set of assumptions about the world and how to enquire in to it What is a paradigm? … a set of basic beliefs [or metaphysics] that deals with ultimates or first principles. It represents a world view that defines, for its holder, the nature of ‘the world’, the individuals place in it, and the range of possible relationships to that world and its parts…. Denzin and Lincoln 1994: 107-9  A set of rules that are shaped by beliefs about the connection between theories, methods and evidence What is a These sets of rules guide research research practice i.e., what we do in our paradigm? research and why A lens with which to view the world The word "paradigm" is defined by Kuhn (1962) as a "set of common beliefs and agreements" shared by researchers regarding "how problems should be understood and addressed" (p.23). Paradigms help researchers understand and interpret knowledge using certain philosophical assumptions, affecting the investigation approach and their interpretation of data (Bryman, 2012). Accordingly, every researcher should be aware of the philosophical assumptions that guide their way of perceiving the world (a worldview), which align with the study's purpose to avoid the negative impact of holding unexamined beliefs on the value of research (Mertens, 2010). Ontology  What exists/what can be known? Is there a real world out there that is independent of our knowledge of it or not? Ontology From the Greek word Onto = being/existence and Logos = knowledge  Ontology Constructioni Objectivist sm ‘Reality’ is socially What we know of the constructed and not a set of world directly reflects the materials/real world given data or physical facts The ‘facts’ we see depend Reality can be seen as a to some extent on how we set of given data or look, which in turn is shaped physical facts by experience; our social-historical situatedness Realism Naturalistic Epistemology  What is knowledge and how can we know it? From the Greek word Episteme = knowledge and Logos = knowledge Epistemolog y In very general terms, there are two main approaches: Positivism and Interpretivism It is best to view these as part of a continuum  Quick Task The purpose of research is to……. Which a) Uncover timeless truths; test approach is hypotheses best? b) Investigate perceptions; jointly construct reality  Positivism Interpretivism Based on the view that there is Knowledge is produced through valid knowledge only in scientific the construction of meaning. knowledge and relies on verified Meanings are constructed by data empirical evidence humans as they engage with the world they are interpreting Society is like the physical world, operates according to general Humans make sense of the world and absolute laws based on their historical and social perspective. They seek to Knowledge is produced by understand the context and observing the world without then make an interpretation of influencing it what they find, which is shaped by their own experiences and Existence of unquestionable, backgrounds absolute truth that is knowable There are multiple ‘truths’ Value-free Value-laden  Unity of scientific method – across discipline Interested in causal relationships Empiricism The 5 pillars of positivism Belief that science and its process is value-Free Foundation of science is based on logic and maths  The world is interpreted through the mind The social world cannot be described without investigating how people use language and symbols to construct what social practices; i.e. understand their experience Interpretivism The social world becomes the creation of the purposeful actions of conscious agents Actions are not governed by discrete patterns of cause and effect (as in positivism), but by rules that social actors use to interpret the world  Knowledge is constructed through interaction with world/others; it is individually/socially situated. Constructivis Realities are local, specific and constructed; then are socially and experientially based and m depends on the individuals or groups holding them (Guba and Lincoln 1994 109-11) Methodology  Beliefs about the relationship between knowledge and reality have implications for the questions asked, methods used and approaches taken. Methods and Need to be made explicit- as they methodology underpin choices about research and are part of the process of understanding research- yours and others e.g. in the literature  Methodology Quantitative Qualitative Generating numerical data or data that can be transformed into useable Exploratory to understand reasons, statistics on attitudes, opinions, opinions, and motivations etc behaviours Insights into the problem or helps to Larger sample population- develop ideas generalisability key aim used to uncover trends in thought and Methods vary but include surveys, opinions testing, experiments sample size is typically small- not aiming to generalise methods vary but common methods include focus groups, individual interviews, and participation/observations  Positivist Objectivist Quantitative epistemolog ontology methodology y Pragmatism Mixed or dialectical methodology Constructionist Interpretivist Qualitative ontology epistemology methodology  Mixed methods or mixed methodologies? For example, an embedded mixed methods study is one in which the whole study is framed within a Pragmatism/ particular paradigm (e.g. interpretive) mixed methods This has implications for underlying assumptions, analysis and conclusions drawn.  Has to do with your beliefs about the relationship between knowledge and reality and the implications of this for the methods you use What procedures are most appropriate because they match your Methodology ontological and epistemological positions or your research questions… Which comes first???  Task In groups discuss: Where do you position yourself ontologically and epistemologically (initial thoughts)? What questions do you have?  In relation to your world view (ontology), where do you position yourself in relation to the paradigms discussed above? [objectivist, constructionism] As a result of your views about knowledge [epistemology] do you see yourself more likely to adopt a positivist or interpretive (or constructivist) approach to your research? Questions for reflection Or mixed methods (pragmatism)? What issues are there, linked to your proposed research, regarding the different ontological and epistemological assumptions which may underpin your research? What are the benefits of understanding and articulating your assumptions?