The present research fits within the interpretive research paradigm. A paradigm, in simple terms, is a set of suppositions about how we know the world and what we do when we conduct research. Haase and Meyers (1988) define a paradigm as a philosophy science or a worldview that embodies a research approach and assumptions that are directly linked to that worldview.A researchparadigm is described as consisting of a combination of fundamental assumptions and philosophies that provide an interpretation as to the perceptions about the world and therefore creating an intellectual framework which directs the conduct of the investigator (Jonker
&Pennink 2010).Geertz (1973) in Ndebele (2015) says that interpretivism originates from a hermeneutic tradition whose major interest is in the interpretation of meaning in discourse as presented in narratives that are personal and the behaviour and activities that are observed.
Creswell (2013) says that nterpretivism can be described as social constructivism and through it individuals it seeks to understand the world around them.People come with different interpretations and meanings on experiences which they encounter in life. He goes on to add that these meanings are diverse resulting in the researcher toseek for more intricate explations on the researched phenomena. Through this interpretivism, the goal of research will be to depend on the participants in the research for accurate information. Very often slanted meanings about different phenomena in society are negotiated socially and historically.
Under this interpretive framework, there are theories which answer issues to do with feminism, gender, disabilities and race. In these theories, reality is known through the study of social structures and it is also based on power and identity struggles. Privilege or oppression based on race, ethnicity, class, gender, mental abilities and sexual preference are expounded. Thus, this study is looking at personal names in as far as the meanings of these names reflect the gender status of the name bearer. Naming falls within the Zezuru discourse. Geertz (1973:2a) in Ndebele (2015:112) says,“The essential vacation of interpretive anthropology is not to answer our deepest questions but to make available to us answers that others, guarding other sheep in other valleys, have given, and thus to include them in the consultable record of what man has said”.
Guest et al (2013) say, “An interpretive research paradigm is grounded upon the assumption that the pre-occupation of qualitative research determinations are the divulging of various
94 aspects of reality rather than the searching for a single reality that is objective”. Denzin (2010) adds that through interpretive approach you will be in the position to capture an in-depth understanding and multiple validities about the phenomena under study. Wahyuni (2012) in Ndebele (2015:114) says, “Interpretivists hold the belief that social actors are responsible for the creation of the truth or reality and their views about that reality”. In studying any given phenomena, interpretivists know and accept the different backgrounds of participants that may result in different ways in which they view and comprehend reality. Cohen et al (2013) say,
“Interpretive researchers generally attempt to understand phenomena through the meanings that people assign to them”. The interpretivist perspective is based on assumptions which include the idea that the human mind is the purposive source or origin of meaning and that human life can only be understood fully from within. The present research gains a lot of insight from such interpretive ideas.
This research looks at personal names in an attempt to unravel gender connotations enshrined in them and as such interpretive paradigm is very ideal for this study since according to Neuman (2012) interpretive researchers use descriptions when looking at particular social phenomena.
The narrative form of analysis which was used in analysing personal names is supported by the use of interpretive techniques which give a detailed narrative for the phenomena to be understood fully. Interpretivists usesa technique that show the insider’s viewpoint regarding social phenomena like personal naming through the study of participants as a virtuous source of knowledge with regard to social phenomena which will be under study. Ndebele (2015:113) says, “The major aim the interpretivist is to investigate individual and collective perceptions, thought patterns and their social values”. Personal names among the Zezuru do reflect their thoughts and values with regard to gender differences and as such through interpretive strategy, gender connotations in Zezuru personal names were brought to the surface. Blaike in Ndebele (2015:112) sums it up when he says that:
“Interpretivists are concerned with understanding the social world people have produced and which they produce through their continuing activities. This everyday reality consists of meanings and interpretations given by the social actors to their actions, other people’s actions, social situations, and natural and humanly created objects. In short, in order to negotiate their way around their world and make sense of it, social actors have to interprete their activities together, and it is these meanings, embedded in language that constitutes their social reality.”
95 Manson (2002) says, “An interpretive philosophical assumption therefore views social actors or people as primary data sources and captures their views”. In this study participants helped in giving information about their personal names. Henning, Van- Rensburg&Smit (2004) say that when using the interpretive paradigm the understanding of a phenomena and social action hinges on the ability of the researcher to give correct interpretation of the data gathered considering social context under which the data was gathered. Garrick (1999:149 in Mamvura 2014) gives the various assumptions of the interpretive research paradigm as follows:
The fact that individuals cannot be viewed as passive mediums in the social, historical and political relationships but possesses the ability to make personal judgement, insights and independent decision making.
The belief in the multiplicity of interacting factors, processes and events that could provide an explanation to an event or action.
The notion that the goal of research is to cultivate a clearer comprehension of distinct circumstances as opposed to making universal generalisations.
The notion of the world as constituted of manifold authenticities that can be interpreted as a unit while also recognising the importance of the context of the experience.
A recognition of the fact that it is extremely difficult to attain a complete reality especially with regards to observing social actors such as humans who are capable of interpreting and making meaning of events from different individual perspectives.
The recognition of the notion that inquiryis characterised by various value systems which unavoidably impact on the designing, direction and handling of the research process.
The present research is informed by the assumptions of interpretive paradigm in carrying out this research.The researcher investigated the Zezuru personal names with the aim of finding out the gender connotations enshrined in these names.
It is always important to discuss other competing research paradigms in the social sciences to justify why in this research i opted for interpretive paradigm over the other research paradigms.
Positivist paradigm is one of these competing paradigms. This research paradigm is the direct opposite of the interpretive research paradigm because according to Glesne (2011) in Ndebele (2015) this paradigm which is often called the logical empiricism paradigmstrives for law-like generalities. Creswell (2009) says that the positivist paradigm is of the idea that researchers
96 observing the same phenomena must come up with the same results especially if they are employing statistical methods in the research. Wahyuni (2012) says, “Positivists hold a common belief in the existence of universal knowledge whose application is relevant across different contexts and as such has been referred as naive realism”. Post-positivist is another competing research paradigm. Racher and Robinson (2002) say that the emergence of post- positivism is associated with the rejection of the early premises of the positivist approach by most researchers. Creswell (2013:24) says that post-positivism has the elements of being reductionistic, logical, empirical, cause- and –effect oriented, and deterministic based on priori theories. Cohen et al (2011) says that this approach is usually used by people with prior quantitative research training as such it could not fit in this research which is wholly qualitative in nature.
What is very common with interpretive researchers according to Maree (2007:59) is that they start out with the assumption that access to reality is only through social constructions such as language, consciousness and shared meanings. Zezuru personal names and their meanings are a result of social constructions as well and they are found within the Shona language.