This document discusses and compares research paradigms and philosophical assumptions between positivism, interpretivism, and pragmatism. It also outlines the key differences between quantitative and qualitative research approaches. Quantitative research aims to generalize and test theories objectively through deductive strategies like experiments and surveys. Qualitative research generates theories inductively through subjective words-based methods like case studies, grounded theory, and ethnography to understand phenomena. Both approaches have distinct steps but share the goal of exploring research questions.

1. In the name of Allah Kareem,
Most Beneficent, Most Gracious,
the Most Merciful !

3. RESEARCH PARADIGMS/ WORLD VIEWS
Positivism Interpretivism Pragmatism
Determination Understanding Consequences of
Reductionism Multiple participant actions
Empirical meanings Problem centered
observation and Social and historical Pluralistic
measurement construction Real-world
Theory verification Theory generation practice oriented

4. RESEARCH PARADIGMS & PHILOSOPHICAL
ASSUMPTIONS
Sr. Philosophical Positivism Interpretivism Pragmatism
# Assumption
1 Ontology: - Singular reality existing Multiple realities Singular and multiple
apart from researcher’s shaped by researcher’s realities.
perception and cultural prior understanding e.g. researchers test
What is the nature of
biases. (Objectivism) (constructionism). hypothesis and provide
reality?
e.g. researchers reject or fail e.g. researchers multiple perspectives.
OR
to reject hypothesis. provides quotes to
what is knowledge?
illustrate different
perspectives.
2 Epistemology: - Distance and impartiality Closeness (e.g. Practicality (e.g.
What is the relationship (e.g. researchers objectively researchers visit researchers collect data
between the researcher collect data on participants at their by “what work” to
and that being instruments.) sites to collect data) address research
researched? Acceptable knowledge is It is cased on the question).
What is regarded as gained through sense and is perceptions of the Objective + Subjective
acceptable knowledge objectively real. (Objective) individuals about the
and how we know it? world. (Subjective)
3 Axiology: - Unbiased (e.g. researchers Biased (e.g. researchers Multiple stances. (e.g.
What is the role of use checks to eliminate actively talk about their researchers include
values? bias) biases and both biased and
interpretations) unbiased perspectives)

5. 4 Rhetoric: - Formal style (e.g. Informal style. (e.g. Formal or informal
What is the language of researchers use agrees on researchers write in s (e.g. researchers may
research? definitions of variables) literary, informal style) employ both formal
and informal styles of
writing).
5 Methodology: - Deductive (e.g. researchers Inductive (e.g. Combining (e.g.
What is the process of that an a priori theory) researchers start with researchers collect
research? participants views and both Quantitative an
build “up” to patterns, Qualitative data and
theories and mix them )
generalizations)
6 Strategies of Surveys, experiments and Grounded theory, Sequential, concurrent
field work ethnography, case and transformative.
Inquiry
study and narratives
7 Methods Close ended questions, Open ended questions, Both open and close
predetermined approaches emerging approaches, ended questions; both
numerical data, statistical and text and image emerging and
analysis (Quantitative) analysis. (Qualitative) predetermined
approaches; both
quantitative and
qualitative data and
analysis.

6. WHAT IS QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH?
Quantitative Research Is "a formal, objective, systematic process in which
numerical data are utilised to obtain information about the world“. It is inclined to
be deductive. In other words it tests theory.
GENERAL AIMS OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH?
To Generalize
To Be Objectives
To Test Theories or Hypotheses

7. STRATEGIES ASSOCIATED WITH
QUANTITATIVE APPROACH
EXPERIMENTAL
Experimental research provides a framework for establishing a
relationship between causes and effects. In experimental the
researcher acts as a inactive agent and use deductive reasoning to
prove or falsify hypothesis. This involves manipulating an
independent variable (cause) and observing the outcome on
dependent variable (effect) while controlling the extraneous
variables. Moreover, random sampling, manipulation and control
are the characteristics of the true experiments.
SURVEYS
Surveys include cross-sectional and longitudinal studies using
questionnaires or structured interviews for data collection, with the
intent of generalizing from a sample to a population

8. PROCESS OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
1- THEORY
2- HYPOTHESIS
3- RESEARCH DESIGN
4- DEVISE MEASURES OF CONCEPTS
5- SELECT RESEARCH SITE
6- SELECT RESEARCH SUBJECT/ RESPONDENTS
7- ADMINISTER RESEARCH INSTRUMENTS/ COLLECT DATA
8- PROCESS DATA
9- ANALYZE DATA
10- FINDINGS/ CONCLUSIONS
Adapted from: Bryman, A. and Bell, E. (2003) ‘ Business
Research Methods’, second edition, Oxford University
11- WRITE UP FINDINGS/ CONCLUSIONS Press. Pp. 155

9. WHAT IS QUALITATIVE RESEARCH?
Qualitative Research Is “an informal, subjective research approach that
usually emphasizes words rather than numbers in the collection and analysis of
data” and that is inductive in nature. In other words it generates theory.
GENERAL AIMS OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH?
 To add understanding to a phenomenon or the complexities of
human behavior
 It does not claim to generalize
 To generate theory therefore it is inductive rather than deductive

10. STRATEGIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE
QUALITATIVE APPROACH?
Attempts to shed light on a phenomenon by studying in depth a single
Case Study case example of the phenomena. The case can be an individual person, an
event, a group, or an institution.
Grounded Theory is developed inductively from a corpus of data acquired by a
Theory participant-observer.
Describes the structures of experience as they present themselves to
Phenomenology consciousness, without recourse to theory, deduction, or assumptions from
other disciplines
Focuses on the sociology of meaning through close field observation of
Ethnography socio-cultural phenomena. Typically, the ethnographer focuses on a
community.
A from of inquiry in which the researcher studies the lives of individual
and ask one or more to provide stories about their lives and in the end, the
Narrative narrative combine views from the participants’ life with those of
researcher’s life in a collaborative narrative.

11. MAIN STEPS OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH?
1. General Research Question
2. Selecting Relevant Site(s) and Subjects
3. Collection or Relevant Data
5a. Collection of Further Data
4. Interpretation of Data
5. Conceptual and Theoretical Work
5b. Tighter Specification of the Research Question (s)
6. Writing up Findings/Conclusions

12. THE BASIC PROCESS OF QUANTITATIVE AND
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH?
Another preliminary consideration before designing and conducting
research is to review and know the basic elements of both quantitative
and qualitative research so that to choose an appropriate approach.
These elements are discussed in the next table.

13. Elements of Qualitative Research Tend Process of Elements of Quantitative Research Trend
Toward….. Research Toward…
Interpretivism Paradigm Positivism
•Point on view of participants Intent of the •Point of view of researcher
Understand meaning individuals give to research •Test a theory deductively to support or refute it
a phenomenon inductively •Generalization
Contextual understanding
•Minor role How literature •Major role
Justifies problem is used Justifies problem
Identifies questions and hypotheses
•Ask open-ended questions How intent is •Ask closed-ended questions
Understand the complexity of a single focused Test specific variables that form hypotheses or
idea questions
•Words and images How data are •Numbers
From a few participants at a few collected From many participants at many research sites
research sites Sending or administering instruments to
Studying participants at their location. participants
Natural setting Artificial setting
Data is collected at Micro level Data is collected at Macro level

14. •Text or image analysis How data are •Numerical statistical analysis
Themes analyzed Rejecting hypotheses or determining effect sizes
Larger patterns or generalizations.
•Using validity procedures that rely on How data are •Using validity procedures based on external
the participants, the researcher, or the validated standards, such as judges, past research, statistics
reader
•Researcher is close Role of the •Researcher is distant
Identifies personal stance researcher Remains in background
Reports bias Take steps to remove bias

15. MIXED METHODS APPROACH
A mixed methods approach is one in which the researcher tends to base knowledge
claims on pragmatic grounds (e.g., consequence-oriented, problem-centered, and
pluralistic). It employs strategies of inquiry that involve collecting data either
simultaneously or sequentially to best understand research problem. The data
collection also involve gathering both numeric information (e.g., on instruments) as
well as text information (e.g., on interview) so that the final database represents
both quantitative and qualitative information.

16. STRATEGIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE MIXED
METHODS APPROACH
Sequential procedures, in which the researcher seeks to elaborate on or expand the findings of one
method with another method. This may involve beginning with a qualitative method for
Sequential Procedures exploratory purposes and following up with a quantitative method with a large sample so that the
researcher can generalize results to a population. Alternatively, the study may begin with a
qualitative method involving detailed exploration with a few cases or individuals.
Concurrent procedures, in which the researcher converges quantitative and qualitative data in order
to provide a comprehensive analysis of the research problem. In this design, the investigator
collects both forms of data at the same time during the study and then integrates the information
Concurrent Procedures
in the interpretation of the overall results. Also, in this design, the researcher nests one from the
data within another, larger data collection procedure in order to analyze different questions or levels
of units in an organization.
This strategy involve the data collection either through sequential or a con-current approach, but
Transformative after the initial analysis, there searcher uses procedure to transform one data type into the other
Procedures data type. This is accomplishing result which facilitates comparison, interrelation and further
analysis of two data sets.

17. QUALITATIVE, QUANTITATIVE AND MIXED METHODS
APPROACH
TEND TO OR QUALITATIVE QUANTITATIVE MIXED METHODS
TYPICALLY APPROACHES APPROACHES APPROACHES
Use these philosophical
Interpretatism Paradigms Positivist Paradigms Pragmatic Paradigms
assumptions
Phenomenology. Grounded theory,
Employ these strategies Sequential, concurrent, and
ethnography, case study, and Surveys and Experiments
of inquiry transformative
narrative
Both open and closed-ended
Closed-ended questions, questions, both emerging and
Open-ended questions, emerging
Employ these methods predetermined approaches, predetermined approaches, and
approaches , text or image data
numeric data both quantitative and
qualitative data and analysis.
Positions himself or herself
Tests or verifies theories or
Collects participant meanings
explanations Collects both quantitative and
Focuses on a single concept or
Identifies variables to study qualitative data
phenomenon
Relates variables in questions Develops a rationale for mixing
Brings personal values into this
or hypothesis integrates the data at different
study
Use these practices of Uses standards of validity stages of inquiry
Studies the context or setting of
research, as the researcher and reliability Present visual pictures of the
participants
Observe and measures procedures in the study
Validates the accuracy of findings
information numerically Employs the practices of both
Makes interpretation of the data
Uses undecided approaches qualitative and quantitative
Creates on agenda for change or
Employs statistical research
reform
procedures
Collaborates with the participants

18. SUPERIOR GROUP OF COLLEGES 18