Research Methodologies - Coursework Example

?3.3 Research Philosophy Research philosophies are the collection of different phenomenon and perceptions of different school of thoughts in researchwho have some distinctive features. Their distinction is devised by the differences in research methodologies, procedures, structure and designing of hypothesis. The research philosophy explains the collection of data, implementation of analysis and tests and finally the type of analysis. 3.3.1 Interpretivism: Interpretivists extend the philosophy of research and state that reality of any matter or research can only be described by conducting thorough analysis which requires subjective interpretation of the researcher. Interpretivist believes that thorough analysis can only be conducted in the natural settings of the study while the researcher participates in this natural environment and interprets its subjective understandings. Interpretivist further argue social research has multiple dimensions and according to their research philosophy the effects of researchers own opinion and effects of researcher’s presence upon study cannot be neglected. They concede that knowledge has multiple facets of reality while with the intervention of the researcher, the environmental settings multiply and many aspects come to the screen which help in accessing more and more scientific knowledge. These multiple realities can be explored by multiple structured processes but their interpretations are very difficult to explore because they have interdependent epistemologies (Lincoln & Guba, 1985). Now this intermingled knowledge can be accessed through examining the social construction of the settings and through subjective interpretations which is the backbone of interpretivism doctrine (CARSON, 2001).). It implies that interpretivists design researches considering the social structures and values of the environment under study which makes the research structure and methodology to be more flexible and judgmental because interpretivist attempt to get through multiple dimensions of the research. In order to design a humanly interactive research model which can perceive multiple realities; the interpretivists come in contrast with positivists who focus more empirical analysis. Interpretivist researcher like other researchers also have prior insight of the research topic but as their belief assert the concept of multiple, complex and unpredictable realities; they don’t rely on prescribed research design rather they have the perception to adapt interactive and collaborative ideas according to the natural social construction of reality. This sense of adaptability among interpretivists mark their research authenticity with the belief of human ability to adapt and explore multiple realities with the passage of time and experience (Hudson and Ozanne, 2005). Positivists try to explore cause and effect of any study and then generalize the estimated result over the whole population while interpretivists struggle to examine specific human and social emerging behaviors such as in a society if death of an individual has taken place, interpretivists will analyze the motives, reasons, timing and context of mourn in the society and then will specify their cultural and traditional epistemology in the process (Hudson and Ozanne 1988). Philosophy of interpretivism assert that human and social behavior cannot be generalized because sociological dealings are way different than natural sciences. Interpretivism further assert that social reality and epistemology is not out there to be collected rather it has to be explored through subjective analysis. Philosophical base of Interpretivism states that in examining social reality and knowledge objectivity has no place while positivist contrastingly support that seeing is believing. 3.3.2 Positivism: Positivism is the philosophical doctrine of social science research which follows the belief that social research should be conducted on the methods of natural sciences (Heywood; 2000). Positivists believe that knowledge is out there and that is required to be processed for further generalization and prediction. Positivists consider strict scientific methods to be the only source of achieving knowledge which follows the predefined theories. Positivist researchers attempt to explore knowledge of realities through construction of general theory statements which fulfill the affirmation of scientific quantitative research model and can be predicted for general population (Cary, 1988). Positivist philosophy assert some well-defined traits to be followed of which the first most traits is that research thesis must assume that the only reality acceptable is what senses can feel, no meta physical belief can be considered as reality. Secondly the only philosophical belief acceptable is what can be based upon the factual and scientific findings. Thirdly social sciences have a well-defined ideological contrast which is based upon distinctive foundations and finally facts which are quantitative analysis and values which are judgmental and qualitative analysis both are two different poles of research. Positivists reject the prevailing assumption that human and social behavior cannot be observed through scientific proceedings rather they proclaim that there is no such social reality which cannot be brought under scientific research study and on which factual analysis cannot be applied whether they are social customs, feelings, norms, values, traditions, principle and laws. The interpretivists criticize positivism for the unauthenticity and inadequacy to examine social reality and multiple realities of human behavior. They criticize that positivists apply an objective and scientific analysis to every setting of human behavior which cannot prove the essence of social construction and its epistemology and such researches ultimately will provide insufficient information to the researchers hence the underlying effect will be ineffective and insufficient policies. Positivist researcher adopt statistical, scientific and mathematical methodologies and techniques to design research models. Such research construction attempts to discover the solitary and objective realities of the study which are motive free, value free, time free, context free and reason free rather they focus to find possibilities of repetition and causality with its effects and consequences. 3.3.3 Subjectivity Subjectivity is the subject’s feelings, beliefs, experiences, perceptions and expectations which in research influence the results and analysis of the study (HONDERICH, 1995). Subjectivity is the key element of qualitative research which can be expressed by the selection of research topic, in construction of hypothesis, in designing methodology and in interpretation of results. Subjectivism is just explaining one’s own view point about the issue under study or in research. All interpretation of subject have some meaning given by the researchers but they are not explaining anything itself. For example my viewpoint about social migration might be different than someone else but both interpretations in subjectivity have the status of truth and value some knowledge but it is not evident that these both interpretations exactly explain the social migration itself. Similarly, if one consider punishment as an effective tool for improvement and other consider punishment as destructive instrument for personality so, they are two point of views on the topic. None of them can be true or both of them can be true but they are one’s subjective opinion. These interpretations can be examined being true through contextual and cultural analysis. So, the level of subjectivity in research is contextualized. Usually in qualitative research methodology subjectivism is considered as the prerequisite for qualitative analysis which in some case might be true but even in qualitative research objectivity is also required. Subjectivity can produce biased results as the researchers own understanding may impede objective analysis over personal experiences and expectations. However, subjective interpretation is not something that a true researcher cannot overcome. 3.3.4 Objectivity Objectivity is the philosophical approach of producing unbiased, unprejudiced and neutral results. For objective analysis of research active, eradicate and sophisticated subjective understanding is required which includes analytical questioning, logical and scientific deductions, quantitative outcomes and synthetic rationale and even extensive subjective analysis can also provide objectivity in research. The key element of philosophy of objectivity in research is that an independent reality is explained in the analysis. It assert that the research should provide opinion independent of any cultural beliefs, expectations, experiences and personal biased understanding otherwise the whole paradigm of objectivity will tumble down. In subjectivity the observer or researcher may prevail a tendency of correctness or incorrectness due to his/her own understanding but in objectivity the analysis must be supported with the help of some empirical statistics which establish a certain degree of accuracy and objectivity in interpreting the results and situation on ground. Objectivism in research contains the highest form of acceptance because it evidently proves the social reality and provide meaningful results which are accurate to the reality. In subjectivity the analysis and opinion of the researcher can be denied on the grounds of confusion in assessing the supporting evidence which is not the case in objectivity. So, in objectivity the researcher must construct his subjective opinion carefully with research hypothesis being scientifically well-defined. Research methodology must be appropriate and should be free of any ambiguities. Hypothesis and testing for empirical results should be validated and apprehended correctly. Only by maintaining the validity and authenticity of the research objective analysis can be warranted as comprehensive and true. 3.3.5 Ethical Consideration Ethical considerations of research are basically the limitations and boundaries defined for scientific research. Theses ethical considerations involve some of the regulations for conducting research to maintain the moral of quality research. In this regard many ethical issues are required to be taken into account which are that Integrity of the research should be maintained, transparency and quality should be undertaken in any manner. Participants must have the exact and complete know how about the research purposes and methods. The confidentiality between participants and researcher must be respected. Participants must be included by their willingness not by force. Protection of all the participants is the responsibility of the researcher. The research must be independent of any influence and any conflict of interests. The researcher has the responsibility to maintain the code of conduct for research. Researcher should have approved the procedures and ethical framework from a regulating agency to minimize the risks of effectiveness. The research in any manner should protect and respect the autonomy and integrity of the participants. References CARY, R. (1988). A General Survey of Qualitative Research Methodology. HONDERICH, T. (1995). The Oxford companion to philosophy. Oxford, Oxford University Press. CARSON, D. (2001). Qualitative marketing research. London, SAGE. ANDERSON HUDSON, L., & OZANNE, J. L. (2005). Alternative ways of seeking knowledge in consumer research. Sage Library in Business and Management. 1, 132. LINCOLN, Y. S., & GUBA, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. Beverly Hills, Calif, Sage Publications. HEYWOOD, A. (2000). Key concepts in politics. Basingstoke, Palgrave. Read More