LESSON 62- RESEARCH METHODOLOGY || SECTION 3.2: RESEARCH PARADIGM

Research paradigms are the belief systems that give a study direction—without them, a research proposal lacks focus on why particular methods are chosen. In research methodology, a paradigm functions as a set of philosophical assumptions (also described as worldviews) that guide how knowledge about a social phenomenon is generated. Researchers may argue for one “best” approach, borrow from multiple approaches, or combine perspectives, but the key requirement is that the chosen paradigm must be made explicit so readers understand the study’s orientation.

A paradigm directs three core decisions. First, it shapes what the researcher chooses to study by answering whether social reality exists and what its nature is—an ontological question. Second, it frames the relationship between the researcher and what is being studied, asking what counts as acceptable knowledge and whether social reality is knowable—an epistemological question. Third, it determines how knowledge will be acquired, addressing the methodological question of how the social reality will be studied.

In social science research, three paradigms are most commonly used: positivism, interpretivism (also referred to as constructivism), and pragmatism. Positivism treats reality as one objective and fixed entity that can be observed. Knowledge is pursued through highly scientific approaches, typically aligning with quantitative methods. Interpretivism/constructivism holds that reality is multiple and individually constructed; knowledge is gained through in-depth understanding of phenomena, which aligns with qualitative methods. Pragmatism takes a more flexible stance, viewing reality as both single and multiple and generating knowledge by combining objective understanding with deep investigation—often implemented through mixed methods.

These philosophical positions are not abstract labels; they directly inform the research methods and the overall methodology used to answer the research problem. That link is why paradigms matter in a proposal: they justify the selection of empirical techniques and help establish which methods are “acceptable” given the researcher’s worldview.

When writing Section 3.2 (Research Paradigm) of a research proposal, the transcript lays out clear requirements. The researcher must (1) state the proposed paradigm and define it, (2) explain the basic considerations of that paradigm, including what it is “about,” (3) cite other studies anchored on the same paradigm and discuss the paradigm’s strengths and weaknesses, and (4) explain why and how the paradigm shaped the study—explicitly connecting the justification to the limitations already discussed. The section should be about half a page, ensuring the reader sees both the rationale for the choice and the constraints that come with it.

Overall, the lesson positions paradigms as the bridge between philosophical assumptions and practical research choices—linking ontology, epistemology, and methodology to the concrete design of how data will be collected and interpreted. Next, the course moves to Section 3.3 on research design.