Pragmatism, Methodology and Politics of Research

Essai , 2017 , 7 Pages , Note: 3

Politique - Méthodes, Recherche

The field of research has been coupled by a myriad of unending debates since the time immemorial. The centre of this discussion is in the methodologies used in social and behavioural sciences. It has resulted in a significant divide between the advocates of either the qualitative or quantitative paradigms. Keenly evaluating this dispute, it has resulted in nothing substantial in the field of research rather than purists. Mono-method research, however, is a significant challenge endangering the advancements in the social sciences. It is highly divisive in that sense.

In my perspective, however, from experience gathered in the field of research and studies on the methodologies employed in solving various research problems, I recommend the pragmatism paradigm in addressing a particular research problem. As long as we expect our research findings to be valued by the educational stakeholders, then we should not ignore the significance and importance of utilising both qualitative and quantifiable research approaches concurrently in our investigation in social and also in behavioural sciences. Though pragmatism is a new research paradigm in the field of social and behavioural science, it eliminates the confusion which for a long time has marred and characterised the research paradigms. It possesses a significant challenge to researchers on choosing the appropriate method to use in their research works.

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Contents

Introduction ... 3

Relationship between Pragmatism, Methodology, and Politics of Research ... 3

Similarities Linking the Research Methodologies ... 4

The Politics of Research ... 5

Conclusion ... 6

References ... 7

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Introduction

The field of research has been coupled by a myriad of unending debates since the time

immemorial. The centre of this discussion is in the methodologies used in social and

behavioural sciences. It has resulted in a significant divide between the advocates of either

the qualitative or quantitative paradigms. Keenly evaluating this dispute, it has resulted in

nothing substantial in the field of research rather than purists. Mono-method research,

however, is a significant challenge endangering the advancements in the social sciences. It is

highly divisive in that sense.

In my perspective, however, from experience gathered in the field of research and studies on

the methodologies employed in solving various research problems, I recommend the

pragmatism paradigm in addressing a particular research problem. As long as we expect our

research findings to be valued by the educational stakeholders, then we should not ignore the

significance and importance of utilising both qualitative and quantifiable research approaches

concurrently in our investigation in social and also in behavioural sciences. Though

pragmatism is a new research paradigm in the field of social and behavioural science, it

eliminates the confusion which for a long time has marred and characterised the research

paradigms. It possesses a significant challenge to researchers on choosing the appropriate

method to use in their research works.

Relationship between Pragmatism, Methodology, and Politics of Research

My perception of the inquiry into the relationship between pragmatism and the

methodologies is influenced by the works of John Dewey. In his address on the political

concerns, John Dewey links pragmatism and the social equality. He is opposed to the mixed-

method research which emphasises more on the practical rather than philosophical nature of

pragmatism. He is keen on bringing out the philosophical aspect of the paradigm of

pragmatism (John Dewey, 1925 a/2008)

The fundamental question to scholars and students, however, has remained which school of

thought to adapt to concerning research methodologies, particularly in social and behavioural

sciences. My arguments would be futile if I fail to evaluate these research methodologies and

establish their relationship to answer my thesis statement.

There are many links left for the researchers to connect concerning the methodologies used in

social sciences field of research. To begin with, though MMR is linked to pragmatism

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paradigm, it puts more emphasis on the practical part of research methods, therefore ignoring

the philosophical background of the pragmatism. On the other hand, we have qualitative and

quantitative research methods. In these, the antagonism lies between choosing which one is

relevant in the social science research. Many students have been fixated to accept as true the

incompatibility theory (Howe, 1988) which postulates the paradigms ought not to be mixed.

The result is a rise of purists who exercise only one model in their research problems.

Purists tend to emphasise more on the differences between each methodology. However,

what they end up forgetting is drawing the many similarities that do exist between these

methods. For example, Rossman and Wilson (1985) note that various schools of thoughts

have come up due to these brawls between qualitative and qualitative paradigm wars. These

schools include; pragmatists, purists and situationists. The schools have evolved depending

on the degree to which individual parties believe qualitative and quantitative paradigms can

co-exist. Purists hold that qualitative and quantitative approaches shouldn't be mixed. (Smith,

1993), (Smith &Heshusius,1986). My interests are on the pragmatists who believe in

integrating these methods within one study (Creswell, 1995). Both qualitative and

quantitative research methods possess some strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, it is

fundamentally essential to utilise the advantages of both approaches to understanding each

social phenomenon in question better. In fact, each research question ought to dictate what

research method to use in that perspective (Miles &Huberman, 1984).

Similarities Linking the Research Methodologies

According to Owuegbuzie, 2003, much of quantitative-qualitative deliberations have been

engulfed by controversies which have significantly contributed to dividing, rather than

illuminating. It has led to a significant challenge to researchers especially when it comes to

deciding the best method to use.

To authenticate pragmatism paradigm, I emphasise on the pragmatic study into the

similarities that exist between qualitative and quantitative approaches which form the base for

every social science investigation. If the similarities between the two methods are more than

the differences, why then should we put more weight on the just few variances, hence

confuse educational researchers? Purists are infiltrated never to see these numerous

similarities due to their proliferation of only one particular methodology.

• Université: Bilgi University İstanbul (Communication)
• Cours: Inquiry of knowledge
• Note: 3
• Auteur: Bora Kurum (Auteur)
• Année de publication: 2017
• Pages: 7
• N° de catalogue: V432174
• ISBN (ebook): 9783668743847
• Langue: anglais
• mots-clé: politics, methods, research, communication