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EPISTEMOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH - Coggle Diagram
EPISTEMOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
The term epistemology comes from the Greek word "epistêmê", to define knowledge.
According to the view of quantitative research, the world is seen as reality that can be empirically determined.
Now there is the acceptation of different epistemologies “underlying theory and practice of quantitative research”, post-positivism, experiential realism and pragmatism.
Post-positivists consider that research can never be certain, and that researchers should approximate that reality as best as they can.
The second epistemology, known as Experiential realism claims that it is not possible to observe the world from an objective way only, for the reason that the own perception itself influences somehow on what is being observed.
The thrid is Pragmatic. One of the main arguments of pragmatic researchers is “that the meaning and the truth of any idea is a function of its practical outcome(s)”.
Epistemologies underlying theory and practice
The quantitative view is described as being ‘realist’ or occasionally ‘positivist’, while the worldview underlying qualitative research is seen as being ‘subjectivist’.
There are some authors who are concerned about the procedures of implementing research methods while others prefer a philosophical view that organizes research in terms of
Comparing and contrasting their ontologies (theories)
Epistemologies (philosophies)
Paradigms (patterns)
Methodologies
There are 4 paradigms are commonly found in social research books.
Post positivism:
there is a reality independent of our thinking about which science can study. For post-positivist critical realist researchers, all observation is fallible or imperfect, and because of it, there is inaccuracy
Interpretivism:
In accordance to interpretivism, researchers are able to interpret components of the study, so interpretivism incorporates human interest into a study.
Criticalism:
confronts those predictable knowledge foundations and methodologies whether quantitative or qualitative that make affirmations of scientific objectivity. The goal of critical research philosophy is to change limiting social conditions.
Postmodernism:
underlines the importance of subjective responses of people and communities. For postmodernists, research involves different ways to appreciate reality.
When using quantitative research approach, the results are based on bigger sample sizes that are representative of the study group. Then, the research study can generally be replicated, simulated or repeated, due to its high reliability.
It focuses on numeric and invariable data and meticulous, convergent reasoning to find an optimum solution to an evidently defined problem.
