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As researchers, we have to be able to understand and articulate beliefs

about the nature of reality, what can be known about it and how we go
about attaining this knowledge. These are elements of research paradigms. A
paradigm is a basic belief system and theoretical framework with assumptions
about 1) ontology, 2) epistemology, 3) methodology and 4) methods.
- Ontology refers to “the nature of our beliefs about reality”
(Richards, 2003, p. 33). Researchers have assumptions (sometimes
implicit) about reality, how it exists and what can be known about it.
- Epistemology the nature of knowledge and the process by which
knowledge is acquired and validate