Paradigms

Question 1

Axiology

Answer 1

Branch of philosophy that studies values.

“What do we value? What values should guide our research?”

Question 2

Epistemology

Answer 2

Branch of philosophy that studies knowledge or knowing.

“How do we know what we claim to know?”

Question 3

Interpretive Paradigm

Answer 3

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Question 4

Ontology

Answer 4

Branch of philosophy that studies the nature of human beings’ existence as individuals, in society, and in the universe.

“Who are we? What are we here for?”

Question 5

Positivist Paradigm

Answer 5

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Question 6

Postmodern Paradigm

Answer 6

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Question 7

Qualitative Research

Answer 7

Qualitative methodologies are typically informed by interpretive and/or postmodern paradigms.

Qualitative methods include techniques like ethnography, semi-structured or unstructured interviews, and discourse analysis.

Question 8

Quantitative Research

Answer 8

Quantitative research methodologies are typically informed by a positivist paradigm.

Quantitative methods include techniques like experiments, close-ended surveys, and structured interviews.

Question 9

Sensitizing Concepts

Answer 9

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Question 10

Theorizing

Answer 10

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Question 11

Theory

Answer 11

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Question 12

Qualitative Research - Purpose

Answer 12

Descriptive

“How” Questions

Question 13

Quantitative Research - Purpose

Answer 13

Explanatory

“Why” Questions

Question 14

Qualitative Research - Reasoning

Answer 14

Inductive: Specific data inform theoretical insights, or theorizing.

Question 15

Quantitative Research - Reasoning

Answer 15

Deductive: General theory is tested through collection and analysis of specific data.

Question 16

Qualitative Research - Research Question

Answer 16

“How?”

“The data provides the answer and you have to figure out the question”

Often the research question is conceptualized and/or refined later

Question 17

Quantitative Research - Research Question

Answer 17

“Why?”

“You provide the question, and the data will provide the answers”

The research question must come first.

Question 18

Qualitative Research - Literature Review

Answer 18

May inform the fine-tuning of the research question, or may be done later to inform the analysis.

Question 19

Quantitative Research - Literature Review

Answer 19

Informs the fine-tuning of the research question.

Question 20

Qualitative Research - Theory

Answer 20

“Sensitizing concepts” (Blumer 1954) guide the research and theoretical insights are generated through data analysis; the participants’ meanings are a key focus of the research

Question 21

Quantitative Research - Theory

Answer 21

Theories are clearly articulated through hypotheses and data are analyzed to determine if the theory is supported, or not; the researcher’s meanings frame the research

Question 22

Qualitative Research - Theorizing

Answer 22

Takes place throughout the research

Question 23

Quantitative Research - Theorizing

Answer 23

Precedes data collection

Question 24

Qualitative Research - Data Collection

Answer 24

Data are collected early through immersion in the field and themes/patterns are identified through coding and analysis.

Question 25

Quantitative Research - Data Collection

Answer 25

Independent variables must be operationalized, and hypotheses articulated, before collecting data.

Question 26

Qualitative Research - The Findings

Answer 26

The findings summarize the emergent themes / patterns that were identified in the non-numerical data during the coding process.

Question 27

Quantitative Research - The Findings

Answer 27

The findings summarize the numerical data and indicate whether they do, or do not, support the theory.

Question 28

Qualitative Research - The Analysis

Answer 28

Theoretical concepts are used to describe or explain the significance of the themes/patterns that are identified in the data.

Question 29

Quantitative Research - The Analysis

Answer 29

Interpretations are provided to explain why the theory is, or is not, supported.

Question 30

Deductive

Answer 30

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Question 31

Inductive

Answer 31

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