Postpositivism - Research Paradigms

This video introduces the research paradigm of Postpositivism as it can be understood for social science and education research. We look at examples from science fiction, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and briefly cover ontology, epistemology and axiology.

If you'd like to read more, the following papers are classics in the field (and were instrumental in informing this conversation):

Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (2008). Paradigmatic controversies, contradictions and emerging confluences. In N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), The Landscape of Qualitative Research (3rd ed., pp. 191-215). Los Angeles: Sage Publications.

Guba, E., & Lincoln, Y. S. (1994). Competing Paradigms in Qualitative Research. In N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), Handbook of Qualitative Research (pp. 105-117). London: Sage.

Hatch, J. A. (2002). Doing qualitative research in education settings. Albany: State University of New York Press.

Lather, P. (2006). Paradigm proliferation as a good thing to think with: teaching research in education as a wild profusion. International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, 19(1), 35-57. doi:10.1080/09518390500450144

You can check out more learning resources like this at the following:

I'll be producing a few more of these focused around practical research issues for professionals, which will take a deeper dive into different paradigms and research issues.

Photo by Louis Reed on Unsplash
Icons from the Noun Project by: Gan Khoon Lay, Yu Luck, Joel McKinney, Laymilk, Rusty Copperpot, Muhammad Samudra, Daeveid Seanz, Jacopo Bonacci, Supalerk laipawat, Brian Ejar,

[brentortman]

Does free will exist in a post-positivist paradigm?

[pandesaljim]

This was really helpful for my online modules. Thank you so much ^o^

[-summer]

This video is awesome, helping me better understand what is post-positivism. I have to say, it's really hard to distinguish the differences between positivism and post-positivism. However, I have to write an essay about these two. TvT That's life.

[coldbootschok.]

thank youu, your vid is better than my prof's 3-hour lecture.

[dertsa]

This is such a great video. Can I ask where you found the quote saying "sometimes it is easier to say what London is not."? Thank you.

[rachelvaughn]

This was so helpful for a big paper I have to do! Thank you!!

[janinajochim]

Am I correct to understand that you can have the same study setup (let's say a questionnaire and quants analyses) but depending on your opinion about how the results reflect reality, you'll either bethis can either be classes as a "positvist" or "postpositivist" approach?

[AA-impz]

This helped me so much in my MRes. Thanks!