CHAPTER 4 RESEARCH PHILOSOPHY, METHODOLOGY AND APPROACHES
4.3 Epistemological/philosophical position of the study
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This descriptive model focused on the "what" of the research subject instead of the
"why." The descriptive research method focuses on describing the nature of a specific population rather than on "why" a specific thing happen (Rodrigues et al., 2021). In other words, it "explains" the research topic without clarifying "why" it happens (Ott et al., 2018).
4.2.3 Experimental research design
In an experimental research design, as opposed to correlational and descriptive research designs, the relationship between variables is evaluated following the researcher's manipulation or control in order to look at cause and effect linkages.
These kinds of study designs have great internal validity since they can connect causes and effects (Bhattacherjee, 2012).
4.2.4 Exploratory research design
The current study employed exploratory research due to its complexity and unexplored nature. Exploratory research design allows for preliminary data collection, hypothesis generation, and in-depth understanding of the local context, laying the groundwork for more structured research (Etican & Bala, 2018).
63 Figure 4.2: The research onion technique Reworked from: Saunders et al. (2009:48)
In terms of the sample and data structured, positivists usually deal with large sample sizes and tend to use highly structured data set (McCloskey & Silvestri, 2021).
Probability sampling is then adopted as their technique or strategy to sample the population (Trochim, 2006). Interpretivists on the other hand are driven by the rationale and the quest to understand and interpret the research phenomenon (Capps, 2019).
Their reality (ontology) is underpinned by the subjectivity in their findings while their epistemology is that there are multiple realities to the truth. Collis and Hussey (2017:123) describe, interpretivism research philosophy focuses on exploring complexities of a social phenomenon with a view of gaining understanding as shown in Figure 4.2. According to Rubin and Babbie (2018:38), the main purpose of the interpretivism philosophy is to understand and interpret everyday occurrences, experiences, social structures as well as values attach to the phenomenon under examination. As per this research philosophy, social reality is subjective as it is shaped by perceptions of participants to research as well as the aims and values of the researcher(s) (Saunders et al. 2009:102). Owing to their
Conducted semi-structured interviews and used thematic
analysis through Atlas.ti
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lineage to qualitative research methods, they rely on the less-structured data sets, relatively small sizes, and non-probability sampling methods (Tjano, 2021;
Dudovskiy, 2022).
Table 4.1: Differentiation between research philosophies
Dimension Pragmatism Positivism Interpretivism Realism Rationale Dialectic Verify or
predict
Understand and interpret
Idea of independe nce of reality from the human mind Reality —
ontology
Realism — constructed on the world we live in
Objective findings
Subjective findings
Objectivity
Truth —
epistemology
Objective and subjective viewpoints
Scientific knowledge is truth
Multiple realities and truth are co- created
Scientific approach to the developme nt of
knowledge Research
strategy (methodologic al approach) — examining what is real
Multiple
methodologies — hybrid of
qualitative and quantitative
Leans towards quantitative methods
Leans towards qualitative methods
Largely qualitative methods
Sample size Mixed or multiple Large Small Small Data type Mixed or multiple Highly
structured
Less structured
Less structured Source: Adapted from: Tjano (2021); Dudovskiy (2022)
Pragmatism which lies between the positivist and interpretivist research philosophies, is underpinned by dialectic rationale. This implies that the aim of the research is to discover the truth from opposing arguments, perspectives or competing ideas (Mason et al., 1982). The ontology is based on reality and is constructed on the worldview of practicality. This reality according to Kaushik and Walsh (2019) is defined by socially constructed beliefs and habits. From the perspective of research strategies, pragmatism is associated with mixed-method research designs, and do embrace the idea of plurality of research methods – from data set, sampling design and methodological approaches (Kaushik & Walsh, 2019).
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Realism is underpinned by the critical realism philosophy (Maxwell, 2011). According to this philosophy, reality is apart from theories, perceptions, and presumptions defining our worldview. It is based on our observations and past and existing experiences. In essence, it set apart true world from the observable world. Through the research design, the methodological procedures followed by the researcher in their attempt to address the research objectives are encapsulated. These are illustrated in Figure 4.3.
The interpretivist philosophy emphasises understanding human behaviour and social phenomena within their contexts, acknowledging the subjective nature of reality.
Figure 4.3: The methodological choices Source: Adapted from: Tjano (2021)
It uses qualitative research methods like interviews to capture nuances of human experiences. In addition, the interpretivist philosophy is suitable for this study because it can be employed for complex social realities, acknowledging human agency, respecting cultural diversity, and providing valuable insights for policy and practice.
66 4.4 Research approaches
Research approach is defined as the plan consisting of the steps for conducting research spanning from broad assumptions to detailed data collection and analysis (Creswell & Poth, 2016:122). The second layer of the research onion consists of research approaches, which include deductive, inductive, and pragmatism methods.
According to Matthews & Ross, 2010; Creswell, 1994; Robson, 2002, andSaunders et al. (2009) deductive approaches are primarily associated with positivistic philosophies and quantitative methodologies, while inductive approaches on the other hand are associated with interpretivist philosophies and qualitative methodologies.
Figure 4.4: The research approaches strategy
Source: Own designAdditionally, deductive approaches involve theory testing using variables and statistical procedures, while inductive approaches focus on theory generation using data meanings. Pragmatism, a combination of both approaches, involves retroductive or abductive reasoning to devise theories rather than revising them (Makumbang, 2021). Figure 4.4 above demonstrates the research approaches strategy. For the purpose of the current study, an inductive research approach was adopted. This choice was informed by the qualitative nature of the study, and the aim is to determine and understand the themes that emerge from the data and possibly form theory out of them.
Theory generation
DATA Inductive
Deductive
Theory revising
Abductive Theory
devising
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