Ontology Epistemology Methodology Products

(nature of reality) (what can be known; (how knowledge is (forms of knowledge

relationship between gained) produced)
knower and known)
Positivist Reality is out there to be How the world is really Experiments, quasi- Facts, theories, laws,
studied, captured and ordered. Knower is experiments, surveys, predictions
understood distinct from known correlational studies
Postpositivist Reality exists but is never Approximation of reality. Rigorously defined Generalizations,
fully apprehended, only Researchers are data qualitative methods, descriptions, patterns,
approximated collection instruments frequency counts, low grounded theory
level statistics
Constructivist Multiple realities are Knowledge as a human Naturalistic qualitative Case studies, narratives,
constructed construction. Researcher methods interpretations,
and participant co- reconstructions
construct understanding
Critical/feminist The apprehended world Knowledge as subjective Transformative inquiry Value mediated critiques
makes a material and political. Researchers’ that challenge existing
difference in terms of values frame inquiry power structures and
race, gender and class promote resistance
Poststructuralist Order is created within There is no ‘truth’ to be Deconstruction, Deconstructions,
individual minds to known. Researchers genealogy, data-based, genealogies, reflexive,
ascribe meaning to a examine the world multivoiced studies polyvocal texts
meaningless universe through textual
representations of it

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