M5: Philosophical Worldviews Flashcards
What is a Philosophical Worldview?
- Set of beliefs related to one’s general orientation to the world and the nature of research
- Dictates what a researcher believes is knowledge
What are the two aspects of
Philosophical Worldviews?
Ontology & Epistemology
What are 5 Common Philosophical Worldviews in KIN Research?
- Post-positivism
- Constructivism
- Pragmatism
- Transformative
- Two-eyed seeing (see Canvas and textbook)
What is Ontology?
- General orientation to the world
- Belief in the nature of truth and reality
What is Epistemology?
- Nature of the researcher’s belief about how we acquire knowledge about truth and reality
Post-positivism
What is a Critical Realist?
Ontology: Critical Realist:
- There is a single reality or objective truth to be discovered through research
- Try to come as close as possible to this objective truth through research but recognize researchers may never discover it
Post-positivism
What is a Modified Objectivist?
Epistemology: Modified Objectivist
Researchers try to be as objective as possible but acknowledge that researchers still may have some influence over the research process
What is Post-positivism?
- Relies on the scientific method
- Sources of data: Quantitative
What are the assumptions of post-positivism?
- Determinism: causes determine effects (cause & effect)
-
Reductionism: ideas can be reduced to small testable
research questions
Constructivism
What is a Relativist?
Sources of data: Qualitative
Ontology: Relativist
- Multiple realities exist
- Meanings of reality are subjective and socially constructed
- Individuals engage with their world and make sense of it based on their own personal, social, cultural, and historical perspectives
Sources of data: Qualitative
What is a Subjectivist?
Sources of data: Qualitative
Epistemology: Subjectivist
- Researchers recognize that their own realities and views shape the research process
- Researchers can not be removed from the construction and interpretation of findings
Sources of data: Qualitative
What is Pragmatism?
- Researchers are concerned with solutions to problems
- Incorporate all research approaches that are required to best address their research question
- Sources of data: Mixed methods (quantitative & qualitative)
What is Transformative?
- Research needs to have an agenda to advocate for marginalized people
- Focus on reform and change through research (…not just as a result of their research)
- Researchers and participants work together to create meaningful change for the participants
- Sources of data: Typically qualitative (quantitative may also be incorporated)
Transformative Example
Work with individuals who have a disability and stakeholders to improve inclusivity in sport context
Can you use post-positivist criteria to evaluate constructivist research?
Cannot use post-positivist criteria to evaluate constructivist research, just as you cannot use constructivist criteria to evaluate post-positivist research
