Article provides philosophical issues on research - differentiating positivist from non- positivist views while doing research ....

1. PHILOSOPHICAL ASSUMPTIONS AS
PART AND PARCEL OF RESEARCH
PROCESS
BY
DR. HELENA THOMAS HAULE

2. LEARNING OBJECTIVES & OUTCOMES
Generally: understand and explain the concept of “research philosophy”
within qualitative research paradigm thinking in general and by comparing with
quantitative research tradition. Key Questions to address:
 What does the term research philosophy means?
What are the important components or pillars of research philosophy?
How do the qualitative oriented research philosophy differ from its
counterpart, the quantitative research philosophy?

3. RESEARCH PHILOSOPHY DEFINED
Research philosophy also known as “research paradigm” – it is an ideology
that guide the study – it provide key ideas or lenses of viewing the world
and research in particular .
It is the use of abstract ideas and beliefs that informs our research. It is
about what do we consider to be the nature of our study - it provide the
basis on how to configure well your research in order to generate credible
knowledge/the truth about key issues interested in a study.
According to Terre Blanche et al (2006), it’s as an all-encompassing
system of interrelated practices and thinking that guide the research process
- not a given commodity but a set of consistent selected views, which
appear to be appropriate in pursuing your study. The chosen research
philosophy will determine the selection of research tools, instruments,
participants and different methods/techniques to be used in a study (Guba
& Lincoln, 2000) …….

4. RESEARCH PHILOSOPHY - KEY COMPONENTS
Research Philosophy is composed of certain belief systems that can be
grouped logically into specific components/pillars/ Elements …..these
basic beliefs deal with the ultimate or first principles that represents
the researcher worldview defining the nature of the “world,” the
individual’s place in it and the range of possible relationships to that
world and its parts (Guba & Lincoln, 1994; p. 107).
Four major components or assumptions of research philosophy:
Ontological Assumptions ……
Epistemological Assumptions …..
 Methodological Assumptions…….
They can be broadened to include axiology and rhetorical issues
(Creswell, 2013, p. 21).

5. PHILOSOPHICAL ASSUMPTIONS
Ontology – origin: ancient Greek language and modern Latin word, “ontologia”,
it is concerned with philosophical questions; what is the nature of reality?
Whether or not social reality exists independently of human understanding and
interpretation. For example, is there a shared social reality or ‘multiple context-
specific realities’ …. is concerned with whether social entities should be perceived
as objective or subjective – two major aspects of ontology thus are, objectivism
(or positivism) and subjectivism…...
Broadly speaking, there are three distinct ontological positions: realism, idealism
and materialism (Snape & Spencer 2003). Realism claims that, there is an
external reality independent of what people may think or understand it to be
while idealism maintains that, reality can only be understood via the human mind
and socially constructed meanings. Materialism: similar to realism, claims that,
there is a real world but it is only the material or physical world that should be
considered as real. Other phenomena, for instance, beliefs, values or experiences
arise from the material world but do not shape it.

6. PHILOSOPHICAL ASSUMPTIONS
Epistemology – origin: Greek words “episteme” and “logos” – episteme translated as
“knowledge” or “understanding” or “acquaintance”, while “logos”; translated as “account”
or “argument” or “reason”. From this, epistemology is concerned with the nature of
knowledge and ways of knowing and learning about social reality, as for this class, nature
of business operations or management to address questions like how you know
something? What counts as valid knowledge and how can we obtain it? How are
knowledge claims justified? What is the relationship btn the researcher and what is being
researched?
With epistemology, two positions are subscribed by researchers depending with their
ontological orientation in the research process namely positivist and interpretive. If you
believe that, reality is out there, to a large extent very objective, it can be captured as
such, then you will be working within positivist/positivism philosophical lens.
Different from the above, if you believe that, the reality being investigated is very
subjective …a socially constructed one ... seen as taking a relativist position. That, there is
no external reality independent of human consciousness (Robson 2002). With this, you will
be seen as working within the interpretive/interpretivism or naturalistic philosophical
framework (Guba & Lincoln 1994).

7. PHILOSOPHICAL ASSUMPTIONS
Methodology – what is the process of research? Concerned with the basic
methods and procedures acceptable within a particular paradigm. Ellen (1984): “an
articulated, theoretically informed approach to the production of data (p. 9) or
discussion of how a particular piece of research should be undertaken and logics
for choosing different methods and techniques (Grix, 2004, p. 32).
Different research methods and techniques acceptable within different research
philosophy i.e. positivist vs. non-positivist. For the former, generally highly
structured, emphasizing measurement, quantitative data – even qualitative but
collected in scales [Likert scale] Key words; statistical methods and techniques
being used in data collection and analysis. For data collection–questionnaire being
the main research instrument ……..in a survey designed study, experiment or cross
sectional. For sampling: large sample obtained through probability sampling
techniques e.g. simple random sampling… Data analysis: statistical data analysis
tools/inferential statistics aiming at testing key theories via hypothesis testing.

8. PHILOSOPHICAL ASSUMPTIONS
Methodology: for non-positivist or interpretive/naturalistic research philosophy –
different qualitative research methods that will allow an in-depth investigation through
close interactions with subjects in a natural social/organizational settings - non–contrived
research settings. Interview protocol/guide/checklist being the main research instrument.
However, multiple data collection are highly emphasized to increase level of reliability in a
study. Other tools like tape recorders, note books etc also used to holistically capture the
reality in the grounds. Sampling – small sample, non-probability sampling e.g. judgemental
sampling, purposeful sampling. For analysis – qualitative data analysis techniques e.g.
thematic – identifying different codes and themes, content analysis etc.
Axiology – deals with ethics and values systems – branch of philosophy that deals with
judgements about values and ethical related issues in a research…. Specifically, it is
engaged with assessment of the role of researcher’s own value on all stages of the
research process. Within positivist, researcher will attempt as much as possible to conduct
his/her study in a value-free way, trying to be as independent as possible - from the data
and maintaining high level of objectivity.

9. PHILOSOPHICAL ASSUMPTIONS
Axiology: non-positivist research tradition, the researcher is value bound, is part
of what is being researched, cannot be separated as such from what is being
studied … so will be subjective. Important thing: to know your position and explain
how being so close to the subjects being studied might have influenced your
findings or the truth and nature of reality and how you tried to minimize your
influence.
Rhetorical Issues –design and role of language in communicating important
message by researcher during the whole process of doing research and
presentation of research findings/outputs. For positivist, in most cases attempt to
use impersonal and impartial expression of key issues in a study. Non-positivist,
also strongly in the important roles of language in communicating key issues in the
study – the language that attempt to particularize key issues as observed in the
contexts – in many cases using direct voice or quotes from respondents or key
informants to enhance credibility in the study.

10. ONTOLOGY – What is the nature of reality being sought by
researcher – what is there that can be known about it – is there a
single or multiple realities? Is it objective or subjective
experiences?
EPISTEMOLOGY – what is nature and forms of knowledge in a
study …what is the nature of relationship btn the researcher and
subjects under investigation? One can adopt a detached and
objective investigative style/stance or emphatic and interactive
investigative stance.
METHODOLOGY – How researcher should go about practically
studying whatever is believed to be important or worthy
studying. It is the way of findings the nature of truth/reality by
applying appropriate research methods or strategies – being

11. Assumptions Positivist/Post-Positivist Non-Positivist/Interpretive
Ontological
(Nature of Reality)
Fixed, stable, observable, and
measurable.
Multiple realities that are
socially constructed by
individuals.
Epistemological
(Nature of Knowledge
and how to
access/acquire)
Gained through scientific and
experimental research.
Knowledge is objective and
quantifiable.
Gained through understanding
the meaning of the process or
experience.
Axiological
(Role of Values)
Emphasis is on the objective
researcher, value free;
subjectivity and bias lead to error.
Researcher's subjective values
& intuition are important;
learning participants' subjective
ideas valuable.
Methodological
(Research Strategies)
Experimental, quasi-experimental,
and non-experimental (e.g.
correlation) research - Quantifiable
methods.
Qualitative methods e.g.
phenomenology, ethnography,
case study and grounded theory.

12. WHY UNDERSTAND PHILOSOPHIES OF YOUR RESEARCH?
Research is a science guided by specific principles and body of
knowledge. Thus, it is important to be well versed not only with
specific issues of your interest but also the logical framework
that explain the nature of knowledge generated in a study.
Answering question like how it has been obtained/generated is
not sufficient enough when defending your work but also why
use specific strategies and techniques and not others.
Logical arguments on this and other similar issues are important
in academic world – acceptability of your work is highly
enhanced by being able to argue within “philosophy of
research”. This is not only important in Quali but also in Quanti
research (Creswell, 2013; Huff, 2009).

13. WHY UNDERSTAND PHILOSOPHIES OF YOUR RESEARCH?
As already noted, different research philosophy will shape differently
the design of your study – ranging from how you define your problem,
phrasing the research objectives and related questions, and the choice of
different techniques used in a study [research methodology part]. Even
the manner in which your study will be evaluated, whether its plausible
or not [validity and reliability issues], this will differ depending with the
type of philosophical stance adopted in the study.
These assumptions are deeply rooted in our training and reinforced by
the scholarly community in which we work…operation research and
business studies in general borrow from many discipline and diverse
philosophical stance are acceptable but you will need to convince others
that you are really aware of it when used in a study.

14. WHY UNDERSTAND RESEARCH PHILOSOPHY
Unquestionably, reviewers - both your supervisors, when
presenting your proposal and final research work and even those
in peer reviewed journals, usually mind what are the philosophical
assumptions underpinning your study attempting when doing
evaluation. Understanding how reviewers position on issues of
philosophical stance is critically important for author researcher,
especially when publishing research work.

15. POSITIONING IN A STUDY
• Overall they should be able to be seen/judged - just by looking the structure and
contents of your study (Creswell, 2013; p. 21 & 22). As we have discussed about
the ontological, epistemological, axiological and methodological practical
implications in a study ……
• However, in many studies, especially for a PhD thesis/dissertation, reviewers and
readers in general would expect a specific section explaining the research
paradigm or philosophical stance adopted by study. Usually given in research
methodology of a study and need to be highly focused – stating directly what
research paradigm or philosophy is adopted or guides the study – should be done
by linking or referring to the key issues in the study. Should explain and show the
logic or reasons for adopting it while connecting suitability criteria to key issues
being studied and explained in a study’s research problem, its objectives and
major research questions ………

16. DIFFERENT NAMES/TYPES OF NON-POSITIVIST RESEARCH
STANCE
Different names are ascribed to non-positivist research paradigm based on exactly
what they are attempting to achieve in uncovering the nature of knowledge/truth in
a study (Terre Blanche et al, 2006; Creswell, 2013)
Interpretive/hermeneutical research paradigm - research-which aims to show
ways of making sense of lived experience from the perspectives of key actors
and researchers own views or logical interpretations of key issues……
Phenomenological /descriptive research paradigm – not so different from the
above, research-which seeks to give a faithful account of an area of experience
or of an aspect of the 'life-world – the focus is on phenomenon being studied ….
Class Activity – identify different labels of non-positivist research paradigm, and
try to differentiate one against the other based on three pillars of research
paradigm namely ontological, epistemology and research methodology…..