Mixed Method Research in Education

Paradigms, Theory
Lecture II
PhD Education (2020)

PROF. DR. AYAZ MUHAMMAD KHAN

DIRECTOR DIVISION OF EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION, LAHORE PAKISTAN
EMAIL: AYAZ@UE.EDU.PK

https://prezi.com/rjoznvgcwhg2/dr-ayaz-muhammad-khan-paradigms-of-research/
Agenda!
 Becoming a Researcher
 Paradigm
 Some Social Science Paradigms
 Elements of Social Theory
 Two Logical Systems Revisited
 Deductive Theory Construction
 Inductive Theory Construction
 The Links Between Theory and Research
 Paradigm 2: Interpretivism

• Many different varieties

• Generally answer the question ‘why’ rather then ‘what’,
‘when’ or ‘how much’?
• Presents special challenges in distributed contexts due to
distance between participants and researchers

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnCvYJlpcX0
 Interpretivist Paradigm

• Ontology: World and knowledge created by social and

contextual understanding.

• Epistemology: How do we come to understand a unique person’s

worldview

• Methodology: Qualitative methods – narrative, interviews,

observations, ethnography, case study, phenomenology etc.
Typical Interpretive Research Question

• Why?
• How does subject understand ?
• What is the “lived experience”?
• What meaning does the artifact or intervention have?
The Constructive Paradigm

This paradigm grew out of the philosophy

of Edmund Husserl’s phenomenology and
Wilhelm Dilthey’s and other German
philosophers study of interpretive
understanding called Hermeneutics
(Eichelberger, 1989)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDEX
XvpbOIM
 The Basic Assumptions

1. Knowledge is socially constructed by the people active in

the research process and the Researchers should attempt
to understand the complex world of lived experience
from the point of view of those who live it (Schwandt)
2. Research is a product of the values of the researcher and
can not be independent of them
 Cont.
Many post-positivists are constructivists who believe that
we construct our view of the world based on our
perceptions of it. Because perception and observation are
fallible, our constructions must be imperfect.

Primary Method(s): Hermeneutical (interpretive) and

dialectical (discourse)– can be qualitative methods alone.
Ontology: Relativism – no universal laws or absolute truths, reality is
constructed. Because research is bound by the context all people’s values are
important to the process because this informs the research.

Epistemology: Transactional/subjective/value-laden – The goal is to

understand multiple realities: created findings
 Paradigm III: Pragmatism
Pragmatism is a philosophical tradition that began
in the United States around 1870.Its origins are
often attributed to the philosophers William
James, John Dewey, and Charles Sanders Peirce.
Peirce later described it in his pragmatic maxim:
"Consider the practical effects of the objects of
your conception. Then, your conception of those
effects is the whole of your conception of the
object.
 Pragmatists

Pragmatism considers thought

an instrument or tool for
prediction, problem solving
and action, and rejects the idea
that the function of thought is
to describe, represent, or
mirror reality
 Pragmatic Paradigm

• Ontology: Reality is the practical effects of ideas.

• Epistemology: Any way of thinking/doing that leads to
pragmatic solutions is useful.
• Methodology: Mixed Methods, design-based research,
action research
Social Science Paradigms: Feminism

 Focuses on gender differences and how they relate

to the rest of social organization.
 Drawsattention to the oppression of women in
many societies, and sheds light on all kinds of
oppression.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uouwV-RfZ3Q
 Methodology Qualitative
(How do we know the world
and gain knowledge of it?)

Framework Analytical
Method 1. Phenomenology
(What is the Basic Procedure of 2. Case Studies
research?) 3. Ethnography
4. Grounded Theory
5. Hermeneutics
6. Narrative Studies
7. Qualitative studies
 Instrument/s 1.Observation
(Which tools used for data 2.Interviews
collection during 3.Document
research?) 4.Qualitative Surveys
5.Focus Groups
6.Documental Revision
7.Case Studies
8.Subjective Observation
 1. Content Analysis
Data Analysis 2. Discourse Analysis
(Which Technique/s & Method/s used for 3. Coding & thematic analysis
interpretation?) 4. Personal Documents

1. N V-vivo
2. Word Smith Software
3. Prism
4. ATLAS
5. Tams Anazyler
Data Analysis Software 6. Dedoose.
(Which software used for data analysis) 7. MAXQDA
8. Hyper RESEARCH
9. Aquad

Theory Inductive
(How theories develop?)
Constructing an Inductive Theory

1.Observe aspects of social life.

2.Discover patterns that point to

universal principles.