PARADIGM

• General perspectives of the complexities of the real world

• World view

PHILOSOPHICAL ASSUMPTIONS

ONTOLOGICAL

(The nature of reality)

EPISTEMOLOGICAL

(How is the inquirer related to those being studied)

AXIOLOGICAL (role of values in research)

RHETORICAL (language in research)

METHODOLOGICAL (methods used in research)

Philosophical Assumptions

ONTOLOGICAL

(The nature of reality)

Positivistic Paradigm (Quantitative )

 Reality exist; there is a real world driven by natural causes

 Reality is out there that can be studied and known

Naturalistic Paradigm (Qualitative)

 Reality is multiplied and subjective, constructed by individuals

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Quantitative (Positivist)

- Testing Framework and Hypothesis

Qualitative (Naturalist)

- Quotes and Themes in words of participants that provide evidence of different perspective
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

• Independent Variable
• Affects CHANGE in the
• Dependent Variable

QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

• THERE ARE NO VARIABLES IN Qualitative Research

• PHENOMENON
• We do not MEASURE them

EPISTEMOLOGICAL (How is the inquirer related to those being studied)

• Positivistic Paradigm - The inquirer is independent of those being studied

• Naturalistic Paradigm - The inquirer interacts with those being studied; findings reflect
interaction

Quantitative (Positivist)

• Objectivity thru control and thus maintains distance (No Influence)

• Short period and "outsider" view

Qualitative (Naturalist)

• Researchers attempts to lessen/minimize distance between himself and that being

researched (objective separateness) (Interaction is necessary to obtain data)
• Researcher collaborates, spends time in the field with participants, and becomes an
"insider" from "outsider" to "insider"

AXIOLOGICAL (role of values in research)

• Positivistic Paradigm - values are held in check; objectivity is sought

• Naturalistic Paradigm - subjective values are inevitable, desirable

Quantitative (Positivist)

• Value free (Control)

• Control variables
• Eliminate biases
• Interpretations are based from results
Qualitative (Naturalist)

• Value-laden nature (Positioning)

• Openly discuss values
• Biases are present and acknowledged
• Include personal interpretation in conjunction with participants' interpretation

RHETORICAL (Language of Research)

Quantitative: Operational Definition

Qualitative: Orientational or No to Limited Definition (no control)

- Define terms in the text and there are multiple definition taken from the informants

METHODOLOGICAL (methods used in research)

POSITIVISTIC (QUANTITATIVE)

 Objective
 VERIFICATIONS OF PREDICTIONS
 Etic – outsider knowledge
 Fixed, Prespecified
 Discreet, numeric, measured , Statistical
 Seeks Generalization
 Product Oriented

NATURALISTIC (QUALITATIVE)

 Subjective (relative)
 Emerging interpretations
 Emic (insider knowledge
 Verification of Predictions
 Flexible, Emergent
 Context-bound, contextualized
 Non-quantifiable, Narrative, qualitative analysis
 Seeks Understanding (pattern)
 Product and Process Oriented
 ONTOLOGICAL "Multiple Reality"
 EPISTEMOLOGICAL "Interactive Process"
 AXIOLOGICAL "Subjectivity is inevitable"
 RHETORICAL "Personal and Artistic Writing"
 METHODOLOGICAL "Emergent and Flexible Design"