Research Philosophies and Methodological Paradigms

This week’s topics

Research Philosophies and Methodological Paradigms

1. Positivism and interpretivism
2. Deductive versus inductive reasoning
3. Comparative evaluation of research designs
4. Alignment with research objectives
5. Research philosophies in Business And Management
6. Theory development approaches and the Research Onion
7. Research Paradigms & Philosophy: Positivism, Interpretivism and Pragmatism Explained (With Examples)

What you will be able to do

• 3.1 Critically evaluate appropriate research methodologies in terms of research objectives.
• 3.2 Design an appropriate methodology in terms of research objectives.

Activity

Start with this week’s 3 videos, then: Seminar, guided reading and a short written task: critically evaluate appropriate research methodologies in terms of research objectives.

Study materials

Videos

• Research philosophies in Business And Management · YouTube · Mark Saunders on Research Methods · 17 min · for registered students
• Theory development approaches and the Research Onion · YouTube · Mark Saunders on Research Methods · 8 min · for registered students
• Research Paradigms & Philosophy: Positivism, Interpretivism and Pragmatism Explained (With Examples) · YouTube · Grad Coach · 15 min · for registered students
• Positivism vs Interpretivism | Research Philosophy Made Easy · YouTube · Dr Hayley Stainton | Tourism Teacher · 8 min · for registered students

Further resources

• Research Methods Knowledge Base (Trochim, hosted by Conjointly) · Reading · Other, textbook · for registered students
• MIT OpenCourseWare 15.347 Doctoral Seminar in Research Methods I (Fall 2004) · Reading · MIT OpenCourseWare, course · for registered students
• Magenta Book Annex A: analytical methods for use within an evaluation (HM Treasury) · PDF · GOV.UK, guidance; 60 pages · for registered students