Chapter 3
Paradigms: Mental models or frames of references that are used to categorize reasoning and observation. They are commonly hard to recognize, because they are implied, assumed and taken for granted. An example is conservative and liberals having different perception of the role of government
Two Popular paradigms
Positivism: relies completely on theories that can be tested directly
Post-Positivism: Disputes that you can make reasonable conclusions about a phenomenon by combining practical observations with logical reasoning
Ontology: is our ideas about how we see the world
Epistemology: is our view on the best way to study the world
Functionalism of Paradigms:
Radical structuralism: Radical change seeks to understand using an objectivist approach
Radical humanism: Understanding social change through a subjective perspectives of participant
Interpretivism paradigms: subjective interpretation of participants involve; interviewing participants and using their own subjective perpectives
Research process:
Rationalization: understanding or making sense of the observation by logically connecting ideals
Validation: testing the theory through scientific method ( data collection, and analysis)
Observation: Observing natural or social phenomenons
Exploration Phase
Third step is identifying one or more theories
Research question: First stage of exploration phase identifying research questions
Common mistakes in research
Pursuing research fads: Research a "popular" ideal
Favored research method: Using a method you like versus what fits the research
Blind data mining: Collecting data without a plan or design
Research proposal: ideals and thoughts, opportunity for feedback
Literature Review: Second stage, purpose of literature review: survey the current state of knowledge in the area of inquiry, identify key authors, articles, theories and findings and identify gaps in knowledge in the research area
Research Report: Final document, detail outline of the research process,