Individual Activity #1 - (Midterms) - Epistemology

Randa I.
Felismino- ABPSY191
Instructions: Research, identify and explain the different epistemology or philosophical

worldview in research
 Post-positivist
 Constructivist
 Transformative
 Pragmatic
Post-positivist
In this type of approach, assumptions have considered to be a representation of traditional
form of research. These following presumptions hold true for quantitative research rather than
qualitative research. This worldview is sometimes known for as the scientific method, scientific
research, positivist/postpositivist research, empirical science, and post-positivism. Under this type
of approach, it also grips a deterministic philosophy, in which, it causes certain outcomes. It is
also reductionistic in a sense that it wants to reduce the ideas into smaller set to test the variables
that contains hypotheses and research questions.
The knowledge that is being strengthened through a postpositivist lens utilized a heedful
and thorough observation and measurement of the objective reality as a basis. Moreover, creating
numeric measures of observations and studying the behavior of people is relevant for this
worldview. In this approach, there is also law and theories that rule the world which needs to be
measured, verified, and refined in order to understand the world. Lastly, in the scientific method,
the universal approach to research by post-positivists starts with a theory, collection of data that
supports or disproves the theory, and revisions before any additional tests (Crewswell, 2011).
Constructivist
Constructivism approach is an epistemology, a learning theory that elucidates the nature
of knowledge and how individuals learn. The true understanding is only created based on one’s
previous experience and prior knowledge. It maintains that people construct their own new ideas
or understanding based on what they believe. Constructivism isn’t considered as a social or
educational theory; it is a scientific and meta theory, in which, it explains the possibility and
limitations of daily life theories in the formation of humanity. Constructivists are observers in a
way observing reality being formed in daily life or in science (Ultanir, 2012).
Under this worldview, constructivists have presumptions that people seek understanding
of the world. They also establish subjective meanings of their experiences—meanings connected
towards specific objects or things. These said meanings are multiple which leads the researcher to
seek for complexity of views compared to narrowing meanings into few ideas. Thus, the
objective of the research is to depend on the participants’ views of the situation that is being
studied. Also, the questions are made in general approach in order for the participants to construct
the meaning of a situation. Constructivists also gives emphasize on particular contexts in which
individuals live and work to be able to understand the historical and cultural settings of the
participants. Researchers also acknowledge that their own backgrounds hone their interpretation.
The researcher’s motive is to explain the meanings that others have about the world (Creswell,
2011).
Transformative
This worldview believes that research inquiry should be intertwined with politics. The
research includes an action agenda for refinement that could contribute to changing the lives of
the participants, the institutions in which people work or live, and the researcher’s life. In
addition, particular problems should be such as the issue regarding empowerment, inequality,
oppression, domination, suppression, and alienation. The researcher often starts with one of these
following issues as the focal point of the research. In result, the participants would be able to help
in doing questions, collection of data, analyzing information, or reaping the rewards of the
research. Advocacy research also gives a voice for these participants which makes way to a
united voice for reform and change. Moreover, this philosophical worldview gives emphasis on
the needs of groups and every individual in our society that may be considered as marginalized.
Therefore, theoretical perspectives may desegregate with philosophical presumptions that creates
a picture of the issues being examined and the individuals to be studied. Also, it could be
integrated with the following issues such as feminist perspectives, racialized discourses, critical
theory, queer theory, and disability theory (Crewswell, 2011).
Pragmatic
Another approach regarding worldviews comes from the pragmatists. Pragmatism
originated from the work of Peirce, James, Mead, and Dewey. Pragmatists also believe that
people need to stop asking questions about reality and the laws of nature. There are several forms
of this philosophy that is being considered, however, for majority, pragmatism as a worldview
appears out of actions, situations, and consequences (Cherryholmes, 1992).
 What are the certain unique features of the epistemology or philosophical worldviews?
Four Worldviews
Post-positivism Constructivism
 Determination  Understanding
 Reductionism  Multiple Participant Meaning
 Empirical Observation and Experiment  Social and Historical Construction
 Theory Verification  Theory Generation
Transformative Pragmatism
 Political  Consequences of Actions
 Empowerment Issue-Oriented  Problem-Centered
 Collaborative  Pluralistic
 Change-oriented  Real-World Practice Oriented
 Is the epistemology can be applied in different research approaches (quali, quanti, mixed)? If yes,
how are these worldviews being applied in different approaches?
Epistemology elucidated as the beliefs regarding knowledge and how it is being

constructed. One of its philosophical presumptions is that it influences which methodologies and
methods researchers will consider as appropriate (Crotty, Lather, as cited in, Godwin et al.,
2021). Epistemology can be applied in qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-research method.
Despite of not being tied of epistemologies to specific research methods, the affordances of these
paradigms have resulted in historically divided research approaches (Tuli, as cited in, Godwin et
al., 2021). For example, researchers often use quantitative approach to study generalizable
correlational trends or causal mechanisms, in which, it relies on traditional statistics that use the
means of groups.
Qualitative research, on the other hand, provides a wealth of information, often in a

natural environment in order to give organic results (Merriam & Tisdell, 2009). The benefits of
using qualitative data research may best through checking the underlying philosophical views
specifically from an epistemological perspective. According to Tennis, it permits individuals’
insight cuts the research into what is acceptable and unacceptable (2008). Thus, mixed-methods
research (MMR) has been elucidated as the third research paradigm that puts together the
qualitative and quantitative research methods. The mixing of research methods mandates an
epistemological framework that embraces the “reality” uncovered by various research methods.
References
Cherryholmes, C. H. (1992). Notes on Pragmatism and Scientific Realism. Educational
Researcher, 21(6), 13. https://doi.org/10.2307/1176502
Creswell, J. (2011). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods
Approaches. Journal of Social and Administrative Sciences, 4(2), 205–207.
https://doi.org/10.1453/jsas.v4i2.1313
Godwin, A., Benedict, B., Rohde, J., Thielmeyer, A., Perkins, H., Major, J., Clements, H., & Chen, Z.
(2021). New Epistemological Perspectives on Quantitative Methods: An Example Using
Topological Data Analysis. Studies in Engineering Education, 2(1), 16.
https://doi.org/10.21061/see.18
Merriam, S. B., & Tisdell, E. J. (2016). Qualitative research: a guide to design and implementation.
In iucat.iu.edu (Fourth edition). Jossey-Bass, a Wiley brand. https://iucat.iu.edu/iuk/15156692
Patiño, J., & Goulart, D. (2016). Qualitative Epistemology: A scientific platform for the study of
subjectivity from a cultural-historical approach. 7(1).
https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1138782.pdf
Tennis, J. T. (2008). Epistemology, Theory, and Methodology in Knowledge Organization: Toward a
Classification, Metatheory, and Research Framework. Knowledge Organization, 35(2-3), 102–
112. https://doi.org/10.5771/0943-7444-2008-2-3-102
Ultanir, E. (2012). An Epistemological Glance at the Constructivist Approach: Constructivist Learning in
Dewey, Piaget, and Montessori. Online Submission, 5(2), 195–212. https://eric.ed.gov/?
id=ED533786

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Randa I.

Instructions: Research, identify and explain the different epistemology or philosophical

Epistemology elucidated as the beliefs regarding knowledge and how it is being

Qualitative research, on the other hand, provides a wealth of information, often in a

Cherryholmes, C. H. (1992). Notes on Pragmatism and Scientific Realism. Educational

Researcher, 21(6), 13. https://doi.org/10.2307/1176502

Creswell, J. (2011). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods

Approaches. Journal of Social and Administrative Sciences, 4(2), 205–207.

(2021). New Epistemological Perspectives on Quantitative Methods: An Example Using

Topological Data Analysis. Studies in Engineering Education, 2(1), 16.

In iucat.iu.edu (Fourth edition). Jossey-Bass, a Wiley brand. https://iucat.iu.edu/iuk/15156692

subjectivity from a cultural-historical approach. 7(1).

Tennis, J. T. (2008). Epistemology, Theory, and Methodology in Knowledge Organization: Toward a

Classification, Metatheory, and Research Framework. Knowledge Organization, 35(2-3), 102–

Dewey, Piaget, and Montessori. Online Submission, 5(2), 195–212. https://eric.ed.gov/?

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