RESEARCH METHODS

Research methods assignment

Research methods assignment

Question #1

Comparison between four research philosophies

Positivism philosophy is based on the objective viewpoint that us reality is present and it can be observed without the interference of phenomena which is being studied. Positivism philosophy says emphasizes on the repeatability of a phenomena. This approach is based on the exploration of the reality and identifies the regularities and associations between the elements of the social world. This observation includes the predictions that are drawn by the researcher based on the realities that were observed previously and recently explained. Moreover, predications can also be made on the basis of the inter-relationship that is the relationship shared between the two elements (variables) in the social world. This philosophy has a connection with the natural sciences and physical sciences. Besides these implications of positivism philosophy, many researchers have argued that whether this approach is suitable or not for natural sciences (Suander et al., 2011, p.113). It does not accept universal grounds as well as objective grounds for values an d the values can only be justified on technical grounds, arbitrary grounds, utilitarian grounds, and normative grounds. The recommendations that are made based on the truth certainty and truth claims. Pragmatism philosophy is based on the meaning of an idea or on truth that is achieved by the observable practical consequences.

Interpretivism philosophy supports the philosophical position of idealism and this philosophy is formed by grouping together multiple approaches that rejects the view of objectivity and does not accept the fact that independent to consciousness, reality is present within the world. Interpretivism and positivism both follows that the observations that are obtained are a direct results of the experiences. But, the extent of existence of reality is a point of disagreement between the two philosophies. Positivism believes in objectivity that is real in the world. on the other hand, interpretivism philosophy says that the things in the world do not mean anything by themselves, there is a concept of mean- making that is interpretation of the experiences are made. This approach is based on the findings that are experienced and made meaningful by the human beings by making interpretations of the experiences (Collins, 2010, p.38). Realism is a philosophy that is based on the real things and objects present in a social world it is opposite to idealism, the findings of realism are independent to the minds.

Pragmatism in light of six philosophical theories

Pragmatism emerged in the United States in the late nineteenth century and soon spread throughout Europe. The most prominent representatives of this philosophical are Ch S. Peirce (who coined this term precisely in 1872), J. Dewey and W. James. Theoretical concerns of this movement is fundamentally about understanding the meaning of the concepts of truth and knowledge, that is, issues involved in the theory of knowledge and language. Against the traditional view that understand knowledge and truth as a reflection or image of the known, pragmatism argues that understanding a concept is rather the knowledge of the practical ...