Chapter 4

Other Philosophical Frameworks Contd.

Structuralism

 Human culture can be understood as system of signs

 That meaning is produced and reproduced through system of signs
 System of signs such as different structures e.g. economic structures, different practices and
ways of doing things

Critical Theory

 The examination and critique of society

 With an exposing system of domination
 Through a focus on values and norms

Feminism

 Holds that there should be equality between women and men

 Politically, socially, sexually, and economically

Poststructuralism

 Derived from a critique of structuralism

Postmodernism

 After the period of modernity

 Modernity was developed from the time of Enlightenment
 Scientist attempted to explore, analyze and explain he world in empirical objective rational
terms
 Postmodernists challenge and reject the simplicity of such approaches

The Philosophical Underpinnings of Research

 The epistemological positions are concerned with positivism, constructivism and interpretivism
 All philosophical frameworks represent ontological and epistemological standpoints
 Possible to situate a research project within one epistemological position and another project
within another.
 For example One research project might be situated in positivism and the next in
constructionism
 The chosen framework tells the reader about the worldview, something about the ontological
position, the researchers understanding of the nature of reality in relation to the research
Five Basic Elements of Research

 In considering the methodology and data collecting methods to be used consider the type of
knowledge required to respond to the research question or statement
 Knowledge is created when the methodology and the methods fit and are capable of generating
the knowledge required for the research
 To answer epistemological questions the researcher should explain and justify the methodology
and methods used