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The epistemological foundations of quantitative research descarga (1) -…
The epistemological foundations of quantitative research 
What is it?
The term epistemology comes from the Greek word epistêmê, to define knowledge. Thus, epistemology is the philosophy of knowledge or the way we come to know.
Characteristics
Quantitative research is characterised as a systematic investigation of a topic related to a social phenomenon and a specific research methodology that collects quantifiable data and uses statistical, mathematical or computational techniques to analyse the information collected in order to test whether a proposed study hypothesis is true or not.
Generally speaking, that any research work that basically consists of inquiring into a specific topic of interest can be carried out using different types of methods and approaches. However, the focus here, considering the type of information sought, is on quantitative research and its epistemological foundations.
It focuses on numerical and invariant data and meticulous, convergent reasoning to find an optimal solution to a clearly defined problem.
First epistemology
Post-positivists consider that research can never be certain, and that researchers must approximate that reality as best they can. That is the best way they can represent that reality.
The second epistemology
Experiential realism claims that it is not possible to observe the world only objectively, for the reason that one's own perception influences in some way what one observes, "Science, according to this view, is an activity that is based on this subject/object schema" (Mulaik, 1995).
The third epistemology,
Pragmatism, recommends a mixed methods approach linking quantitative and qualitative methods as the most appropriate way to observe the world depending on what is to be discovered, which will also determine the type of questions to be asked, "that the meaning and truth of any idea is a function of its practical results".
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