LESSON 9 - RESEARCH PHILOSOPHY : RESEARCH PARADIGMS & PHILOSOPHICAL ASSUMPTIONS

Welcome to this lesson where we shall anchor research on philosophy. Lets start by asking ourselves? What influences the decisions you make in life? This could be decisions regarding the school you take your children to, the kind of car you drive, the kind of neighborhood you live in and the type of institution you enroll for a higher degree. In real sense, these decisions are influenced by the beliefs and assumptions that you hold regarding a particular issue. Similarly, development of knowledge by researchers is influenced by the beliefs and the assumptions they hold.

In research, there are three assumptions that influences how researchers develop knowledge in order to answer research questions/problem. This regards:
1. The nature of knowledge (Epistemology)
2. The nature of reality (Ontology)
3. The nature of Values (Axiology)
This lesson will discuss in details each of these assumptions.

Researchers hold different views regarding the above. Disagreements on these brought about paradigms with each paradigm holding its view on knowledge, reality and values differently. In social science research, we have 4 paradigms: Positivism, Social Constructivism, Emancipatory and Pragmatism. In the lesson, each of the paradigm is discussed based on the assumptions they hold.

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[founemakansissoko]

Thank you, Professor Lydiah, for this very wonderful and easy-to-understand presentation!

[joelkuria]

Thanks you for sharing this thought provoking session. I appreciate the way you break down complex concepts in a very simple to understand and contextual manner.

[ajayanchan]

Informative content....explained in work

[apiofelistas]

Thank you very much Dr. you have this paradigms easily. Excellent presentation.

[vincentsankhani]

simple and straightforward explanations. thumbs-up

[lydiawambui]

Thank you Dr Wambugu. The explanation makes the would be intimidating philosophical jargon easy to understand for all. Very constructive, keep it up.

[MuhammadAbbas-ur]

Beyond description wonderful Elaboration

[milcahabasabyona]

Thank you for the selfless gesture of sharing your knowledge

[MaserekaEric-cvdt]

Thank you Dr. for inspiring me to fully understand the philosophical underpinnings of my study.

[jakompastor]

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[godwinmakokha]

Well explained Dr. thank you for asummarized content

[nangolokalulu]

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[emmanueltheophilus]

Thanks for sharing this is well simplified. It will be good if you can provide your details, so that one can cite this in further studies.

[lizkyolaba]

Thank you Dr..for using real life situations to help us young researchers to understand these abstract terms in research

[ruthsarah]

I have research methodology exam tomorrow, this is so helpful, thanks Doc

[khayalamohlubi]

Been confused all along but now I have an understanding thank you for this

[patrickngigi]

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[matthewemasogbe]

This is a very good lecture for the quality delivery thus bringing thorough understanding

[denniskamunyo]

Kindly say something about philosophical issues in research

[bornfacemuleya]

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