research perspective overview slides 2008-2009 (5)

8/2/2019 Research Perspective Overview Slides 2008-2009 (5)

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Perspectives on ResearchPerspectives on Research

MethodologyMethodologyDarleen OpferDarleen Opfer


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Behind the welter of names positivism, naturalism, post-Behind the welter of names positivism, naturalism, post-positivism, relativism, feminist standpoint epistemology,positivism, relativism, feminist standpoint epistemology,

foundationalism, postmodernism, each with an array of sub-foundationalism, postmodernism, each with an array of sub-

species lie important questions: Is there a single, absolutespecies lie important questions: Is there a single, absolutetruth about educational phenomena, or are there multipletruth about educational phenomena, or are there multipletruth? (Or is the concept of truth itself so problematic as totruth? (Or is the concept of truth itself so problematic as tobe of no value in understanding the world?) Can we countbe of no value in understanding the world?) Can we count

on our senses or on reason, to distinguish that which is trueon our senses or on reason, to distinguish that which is true

about the world from that which is false? Are there methodsabout the world from that which is false? Are there methodsthat can lead us close to understanding, or are therethat can lead us close to understanding, or are there

inherent indeterminancies in all methods? Is knowledge ofinherent indeterminancies in all methods? Is knowledge ofthe world discovered, or constructed? Can knowledge of thethe world discovered, or constructed? Can knowledge of theworld be evaluated independent of the social and historicalworld be evaluated independent of the social and historical

contexts in which it exists, or is it always contingent upon,contexts in which it exists, or is it always contingent upon,or relative to, particular circumstances?or relative to, particular circumstances?

(Pallas, 2003, p.6)(Pallas, 2003, p.6)


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Why Understand ResearchWhy Understand Research

Epistemology and Ontology?Epistemology and Ontology?

to understand the interrelationship of theto understand the interrelationship of the

key components of research (includingkey components of research (including

methodology and methods);methodology and methods);

to avoid confusion when discussingto avoid confusion when discussing

theoretical debates and approaches totheoretical debates and approaches to

social phenomena; andsocial phenomena; and

to be able to recognize others, andto be able to recognize others, and

defend our own, positions.defend our own, positions.


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OntologyOntology

claims and assumptions that are madeclaims and assumptions that are made

about the nature of social reality, claimsabout the nature of social reality, claims

about what exists, what it looks like, whatabout what exists, what it looks like, what

units make it up and how these unitsunits make it up and how these units

interact with each other. In short,interact with each other. In short,

ontological assumptions are concernedontological assumptions are concerned

with what we believe constitutes socialwith what we believe constitutes socialreality.reality.Blaikie, 2000, p. 8Blaikie, 2000, p. 8


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EpistemologyEpistemology

the possible ways of gaining knowledge ofthe possible ways of gaining knowledge of

social reality, whatever it is understood tosocial reality, whatever it is understood to

be. In short, claims about how what isbe. In short, claims about how what is

assumed to exist can be known.assumed to exist can be known. Blaikie,Blaikie,

2000, p. 82000, p. 8


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Epistemological AssumptionsEpistemological Assumptions

ObjectivityObjectivitybelieves that knowledge existsbelieves that knowledge exists

whether we are conscious of it or not.whether we are conscious of it or not.

ConstructionistConstructionist

believes that we come tobelieves that we come to

know through our interactions.know through our interactions.

SubjectivitySubjectivitybelieves that everyone has abelieves that everyone has a

different understanding of what we know.different understanding of what we know.


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Epistemological ContinuumEpistemological Continuum

Post-Positivism

Positivism

Interpretivism

Pragmatism

Participatory

Postmodern

Objectivity Subjectivity


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Epistemological HistoryEpistemological History

Post-Positivism

Positivism

Interpretivism

Pragmatism

Participatory

Postmodern


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Assumptions of InterpretivismAssumptions of Interpretivism

Meanings are constructedeanings are constructed by humans asby humans asthey engage with the world they arethey engage with the world they areinterpretingnterpreting ..

Humans make sense of the world based onHumans make sense of the world based ontheir historical and social perspective. Theytheir historical and social perspective. Theyseek to understandeek to understand thethe contextontext and thenand thenmakemake an interpretationn interpretation of what they findof what they findwhich is shaped by their own experiences andwhich is shaped by their own experiences andbackgrounds.backgrounds.

The basic generation of meaning is alwaysThe basic generation of meaning is alwayssocial.social.


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Assumptions of ParticipatoryAssumptions of Participatory

Participatory research is recursive andParticipatory research is recursive anddialectical and is focused ondialectical and is focused on bringringabout changebout change in practices.in practices.

Begins with a stance about the problemsBegins with a stance about the problemsin society.in society.

It is emancipatory.It is emancipatory.

It is inquiryIt is inquiry completed with othersompleted with others rather than on or to others.rather than on or to others.

The research process isThe research process is cyclicalycl ical ..


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Assumptions of PragmatismAssumptions of Pragmatism

Is not committed to any one system ofIs not committed to any one system ofphilosophy or reality.philosophy or reality.

Individual researchers haveIndividual researchers have freedom ofreedom ofchoicehoice to select procedures that best meetto select procedures that best meettheir needs.their needs.

Pragmatists do not see the world as anPragmatists do not see the world as anabsolute unity.absolute unity.

Truth isTruth is what works at the timehat works at the time .. We need to stop asking questions about realityWe need to stop asking questions about reality

and the laws of nature andand the laws of nature and start solvingtart solvingproblemsroblems ..


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Activity 1: Language Use inActivity 1: Language Use in

AbstractsAbstracts

Read the abstracts provided and underlineRead the abstracts provided and underline

words which you think may illustrate thewords which you think may illustrate the

epistemological and theoreticalepistemological and theoreticalassumptions of the researcher.assumptions of the researcher.


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WhatWhat methodsmethodsdo you propose to use?do you propose to use?

WhatWhat methodologymethodologygoverns your choicegoverns your choice

and use of the methods?and use of the methods?

WhatWhat theoretical perspectivetheoretical perspectivelies behindlies behind

the methodology in question?the methodology in question?

WhatWhat epistemologyepistemologyinforms this theoreticalinforms this theoreticalperspective?perspective?


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Methods the techniques or procedures used to gatherMethods the techniques or procedures used to gather

and analyze data related to some research question ofand analyze data related to some research question ofhypothesishypothesis

Methodology the strategy, plan of action, process orMethodology the strategy, plan of action, process ordesign lying behind the choice and use of particulardesign lying behind the choice and use of particularmethods and linking the choice and use of methods tomethods and linking the choice and use of methods to

desired outcomes.desired outcomes. Theoretical perspective: the philosophical stanceTheoretical perspective: the philosophical stance

informing the methodology and thus providing a contextinforming the methodology and thus providing a contextfor the process and grounding its logic and criteria.for the process and grounding its logic and criteria.

Epistemology: the theory of knowledge embedded in theEpistemology: the theory of knowledge embedded in thetheoretical perspective and thereby in the methodology.theoretical perspective and thereby in the methodology.(how we know what we know)(how we know what we know)


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epistemology

theoretical perspective

methodology

methods


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Ontology Epistemology Methodology Methods Sources

Whats out

there to

know?What and

how can

we know

about it?

How can we

go aboutacquiring

knowledge?What

procedures

can we use to

acquire it?Which data

can we

collect?

Adapted from Hay, 2002, pg. 64


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Epistemology TheoreticalPerspective

Methodology Methods

ObjectivismConstructionis

mSubjectivism(and their

variants)

PositivismPost-positivism

InterpretivismSymbolicinteractionsimPhenomenologyHermeneutics

PragmatismParticipatory

Critical inquiryFeminism

Postmodernism(etc.)

Experimentalresearch

Survey researchEthnographyPhenomenologicalresearchGrounded theoryHeuristic inquiryAction research

Discourse analysisFeministstandpointresearchCase Study(etc.)

SamplingMeasurement and

scalingQuestionnaireObservation

ParticipantNon-participant

InterviewFocus group

Case studyLife historyNarrativeVisual ethnographicmethodsStatistical analysisData reduction

Theme identificationComparative analysisCognitive mappingInterpretative methodsDocument analysisContent analysisConversation analysis(etc.)


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Objectivist

Post - Positivist

Survey Research

Statistical Analysis

Putnams Social Capital


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Constructionist

Interpretive

Case Study

Interviews

Colemans Social Capital


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Activity 2: Your Own Research DiagramActivity 2: Your Own Research Diagram

Use the blank Crotty Diagram to identifyUse the blank Crotty Diagram to identify

the chain that seems to underlie your ownthe chain that seems to underlie your own

research interests. We will share theseresearch interests. We will share these

when finished.when finished.


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EpistemologyTheoreticalPerspective

Methodology Methods

ObjectivismConstructionism

Subjectivism(and their

variants)

PositivismPost-positivismInterpretivism

SymbolicinteractionsimPhenomenologyHermeneutics

PragmatismParticipatory

Critical inquiry

FeminismPostmodernism(etc.)

ExperimentalresearchSurvey research

EthnographyPhenomenologicalresearchGrounded theoryHeuristic inquiryAction researchDiscourse analysis

Feministstandpointresearch(etc.)

SamplingMeasurement andscaling

QuestionnaireObservation

ParticipantNon-participant

InterviewFocus groupCase study

Life historyNarrativeVisual ethnographicmethodsStatistical analysisData reductionTheme identification

Comparative analysisCognitive mappingInterpretative methodsDocument analysisContent analysisConversation analysis(etc.)

research perspective overview slides 2008-2009 (5)

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