This week has been a world of new vocabulary relating to research. To wrap me head around some relevant vocabulary, I decided to create my own definitions.
Research
To begin the discussion around research it is important to first define what the word research means. There are so many definitions out there, but my understanding is that research is the systematic study of a phenomenon. It relies on the collection and analysis of data and using this information to create or discover new knowledge. It can also be the analysis of existing knowledge that creates new understandings. Once this process has been completed, the dissemination of this research is also an important step.
Paradigm
The paradigm is the framework for how the researcher views the world. This view will in turn influence how the research is conducted. The three main paradigms are positivist, post-positivist and interpretivist, each with their own distinct views.
| Positivist | The positivist paradigm is very black and white in its views. It relies on solving problems mathematically and that truth is out there, but just needs to be discovered. This truth can be discovered in its whole through quantitative methods such as experiments. |
| Post-positivist | The post-positivist paradigm leads on from the positivist approach, however there are limits to what can be discovered. This paradigm often focuses on the null-hypothesis and falsifying findings. Eg: One black swan disproves the theory that all swans are white. Post-positivists often use mixed-methods and triangulate the findings. |
| Interpretivist | Interpretivists focus on reality being constructed through human experience. Truth can be discovered through understanding the complexity of relationships and this is achieved through qualitative methods such as interviews and focus groups. |
Methodology
Research methodology is the framework for how a researcher intends to complete their research. It usually falls into the categories of qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods. The methods then come below this. A qualitative method could be ethnography where data is gathered through interviews. A quantitative method could be an experiment where data is gathered through statistical modelling.
There is still a long way to go in my understanding of research theory, but I am enjoying the journey.