Research

Philosophy
Presented By-
Alfishan Rehmat
Faculty Roll No. 19-PHD-003
Department of Agricultural Eco. & Business Management
 Research Philosophy
The research philosophy is the foundation of any study as it describes the set of belief about
the way in which data about a phenomenon should be gathered, analyzed and used.

Research Philosophy enable to decide which approach should be adopted by the researcher
and why, which is derived from research questions (Saunders, Lewis, & Thornhill, 2009).
Quantitative and Qualitative paradigms
• The key term relating to the way of looking at the world is ‘paradigm’. A paradigm is a
pre-requisite of perception itself – what you see depends on what you look at, your
previous visual/conceptual experience and how you look.
• In relation to research, it has become clear over the past one hundred years or so, that
there are only two major ways of ‘looking at the world’.

Objective
•There is only one truth or a limited number of
universal truths and measurable in terms of the use
of numbers.

Subjective
possible, or desirable
interpretations and numeric measurement is not always
• There are number of realities which is open for several
• When comparing paradigms there are three important questions:

1.What is real (ontology)?

2. How can we know anything (epistemology)?
3.What methods should we use to conduct research (methodology)?
Ontology
The question, ‘What is real?’ is concerned with the concept of ontology, it is a
system of belief that reflects an interpretation of an individual about what
constitutes a fact. It is classified on the basis of two i.e. objectivism and
subjectivism
The first aspect of ontology portrays that there is only one objective truth/a
knowable reality. From another aspect everything is relative, there is no such
thing as one objective truth or even universal truths, but merely a number of
subjective truths.
 What is
What reality
shapes
reality
What is
relationship
between
each
component

Ontology
Ontology Believes Singularity

1. Believe that there is only one reality

1 3
2. Believe that there are multiple realities or truths
2
3. Believe that reality can be one or many
One and
Many
Epistemology
Epistemology studies the nature of
knowledge, and the process by which
knowledge is acquired and validated.

Its Basically focuses on questions like-

• What we human beings know?
• How do we know such knowledge?
Believes of Epistemology
1. Knowledge can be measured using scientific rules
using reliable tools and designs

2. Knowledge is interpretive in nature, so needs to be

interpreted or explained

3. Knowledge should be examined using best tools,

scientific designs or interpretations
Positivism

• Those who believe there is a single objective truth are usually

referred to as ‘positivists’. Such people believe there are universal truths
that are waiting to be discovered.
• In the positivist’s view, knowledge can only be acquired
through empirical research, which is based on measurement and
observation. In other words, all knowledge is viewed as a posteriori
knowledge – knowledge that is not reliant on human reasoning but instead
is gained from research.
 Research
Ontology Epistemology Philosophy

Measured using
Believe that there
is only one reality
reliable tools and Positivism
designs
 Constructivism/ Interpretivism

• While those who believe there is no reality other than what individuals create in
their heads are known as ‘constructivists’ or ‘interpretivists’.
• The term constructivist has emerged as those who use this approach and who
believe, in relation to research, that there is no objective reality, but that reality
is constructed by each individual. Therefore reality is subjective.
 Research
Ontology Epistemology
Philosophy

Knowledge needs
Believe that there
are multiple reality
to be interpreted Constructivism
and explained
Pragmatism
Pragmatism highlights the importance of using the best tools possible to investigate
phenomena. The main aim of pragmatism is to approach research from a practical point of
view, where knowledge is not fixed, but instead is constantly questioned and interpreted.
For this reason, pragmatism consists of an element of researcher involvement and
subjectivity, specifically when drawing conclusions based on participants’ responses and
decisions. In other words, pragmatism is not committed to (or limited by) one specific
philosophy.
 Research
Ontology Epistemology Philosophy

Knowledge can be
Believe that reality
can be one and
measured and Pragmatism
interpreted
many
Realism
Realism research philosophy relies on the idea
of independence of reality from the human
mind. This philosophy is based on the
assumption of a scientific approach to the
development of knowledge.
Realism is classified as direct realism and
critical realism. Direct realism explains what is
experienced by our senses and that are attained by
the researcher. While, the critical realism
expresses that what is experienced by our
sensations those are images of the real world, not
the reality.
Axiology
Axiology is the study of quality or value. It is
often concerned about judgments, aesthetics, and
ethics. The process of social enquiry is involved in
this approach. Researchers’ axiological skill is
executed in order to make judgments about the
research content and its conduct.