Qualitative Research

Methodology
Session 1 & 2
By
Dr. Qudsia Kalsoom
School of Education
 Session Content
1. Introduction to the Purpose and Roots of Research
2. Knowledge and its Sources
2. Research Paradigms
•Positivism/ Post-positivism
•Constructionism/ Interpretivism
•Critical Theory
•Pragmatism
Task: Brainstorming

What is research?
 Epistemology
•What is the nature of knowledge?
•What is it that determines whether or not someone
knows something?
•What are the sources of knowledge?
 Knowledge
•Propositional knowledge
•Ability knowledge
•Knowledge vs Mere Belief
Types of Knowledge (Common Terms)
• Domain specific Knowledge
• Generic Knowledge
• Declarative Knowledge
• Procedural Knowledge
• Metacognitive Knowledge
• Tacit Knowledge
• Explicit Knowledge
• Situational knowledge
• Structural knowledge
• Conceptual Knowledge
Reif and Allen (1992) Terms of Knowledge
• Main Interpretation Knowledge
• General Knowledge
• Definitional Knowledge
• Ancillary Knowledge
• Supplementary Knowledge
• Case-specific Knowledge
• Entailed Knowledge
• Concept Knowledge
Reif and Allen (1987) Terms of Knowledge
• Declarative Knowledge
• Procedural Knowledge
• Formal Knowledge
• Compiled Knowledge
• Special Knowledge
• General Knowledge
• Coherent Knowledge
 Levels of Knowledge
• Deep Level
• Surface Level
 Declarative / Propositional Knowledge
•Facts
•Concepts
•Generalizations
 Sources of Knowledge
•Superstition and Intuition
•Authority
•Logic/ Rationality
•Empiricism
•Science
 A Research Problem
Research problems are NOT problems rather are the
statements that indicate investigation into something
already not investigated. Research problems are rooted
in prior literature.
 What is the purpose of research?
•Research aims at answering the unanswered
questions.
•Research aims at creating new knowledge.
•Research aims at discovering the truth/ reality.
•Research aim at creating reality/ truth.
•Research aims at finding the reality.
 Research Paradigms
A paradigm or worldview is "a basic set of beliefs that guide
action“ (Guba, 1990, p. 17).
These beliefs may be labelled as:
•paradigms (Lincoln & Guba, 2000; Mertens, 1998);
•philosophical assumptions, epistemologies, and ontologies
(Crotty, 1998);
•broadly conceived research methodologies (Neuman, 2000);
•alternative knowledge claims (Creswell, 2003).
In other words, one’s beliefs make up
one’s lens to look at things and take
action. A research paradigm is one’s
lens.
 What are Beliefs?
In simplest way Beliefs may be defined as
“psychologically held understandings, premises,
or propositions that are thought to be true”
(Philipp, 2007, p. 259).
 Which Beliefs/ Assumptions guide
Research?
•Ontological (assumptions about nature of reality/
truth)
•Epistemological (assumptions about nature of
knowledge, and relationship between knower and
would-be known)
•Axiological (Values, ethical behaviour)
•Methodological (choice of research approach i.e.
QUANTITATIVE or QUALITATIVE)
 Quantitative vs Qualitative Researchers
Quantitative researchers DISCOVER the truth.
Qualitative researchers CONSTRUCT or INTERPRET the
truth.
Unlike quantitative researchers, the qualitative
researchers or subjectivists aim at understanding and
explaining a problem in its contextual setting. They do
not perceive research problems as a matter of causality.
They are interested in meanings individuals assign to a
given situation or phenomenon. Or the goal is to
uncover the perceptions of reality.
Task: View the video on research paradigms.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xvpxB
VCo0c

Describe the difference between realism and

relativism in 50 words.
What is post modernism paradigm of
research? How is it different from relativism?
(50 words)
 Links
Understanding paradigm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msol54Fga6w
Research Paradigms
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xvpxBVCo0c