Positivism Post Critical theory Constructivism

Positivism
Ontology An apprehendable reality is assumed to A reality is assumed to be
(Nature of exist in the form of time- and context- apprehendable that was
reality) once plastic, but that was,
free generalizations, some of which take over time, shaped by a
the form of cause-effect laws. congeries of social, political,
cultural, economic, ethnic,
and gender factors, and then
crystallized into a series of
structures that are now
taken as real.
Realities are
apprehendable in the form
of multiple, intangible
mental constructions,
socially and
experimentally based,
local and specific in
nature.

Epistemology Dualist and Reality is assumed to The investigator and the Subjectivist.
(Relationship objectivist. exist but to be only investigated object are The investigator and the
between investigator is imperfectly assumed to be object of investigation are
researcher and capable of studying apprehendable because of interactively linked. The assumed to be
investigated the object without basically flawed human value of the investigator interactively linked so that
object) influencing it or intellectual mechanisms inevitably influencing the the findings are literally
being influenced and fundamentally inquiry. Findings are created as the
by it. intractable nature of value mediated. investigation proceeds
phenomena.
Methodology Questions and/or Emphasis is placed on The transactional nature Constructions can be
(Researcher’s hypotheses are falsifying (rather than of inquiry requires a elicited and refined only
method to find stated in verifying) hypothesis. dialogue between the through interaction between
out object) propositional form Reintroduces discovery investigator and the and among investigator and
and subjected to as an element in inquiry subjects of the inquiry respondents. Constructions
empirical test to and it is accomplished are interpreted using
verify them. largely through the conventional hermeneutical
 Experiment and increased utilization of techniques.
90 quantitative qualitative techniques
methods Adopted from Lincoln, Y & Guba, E.(1985)