Personally, I think whole concept of research paradigms is rather out of date. Unless your program or committee requires that, I recommend concentrating on your research questions and how they relate to your strategies for collecting and analyzing your data.

Thanks for your advice. Indeed, in my chapter outline main sections focused on the ethical consideration, recruitments, excluded/included data, statistical analysis. The research paradigm supports the objectivity to make decision for the preparation and analysis of data.

I advocate an analysis strategy that does the best job of addressing your research questions and goals, rather than worrying about the nature of reality.

Thank you for raising this important point—it’s a common concern for many doctoral researchers. May I ask whether your dissertation is primarily based on a quantitative or qualitative methodology? This might help clarify how much emphasis you need to place on the philosophical paradigm section.

I use only quantitative methodology on secondary data. It is the positivism research paradigm.

Thank you for clarifying your positivist approach with quantitative methodology. For your methodology chapter, I recommend a brief overview (half to one page) of major research paradigms to demonstrate your knowledge, followed by a focused discussion on your chosen positivist paradigm. This approach shows your comprehensive understanding while maintaining appropriate emphasis on your specific methodological choices. This balance will strengthen your thesis by connecting your quantitative methods with their philosophical foundations.

To develop a worldview (positivism, post-positivism, social constructivism, etc.), initial methodological considerations are crucial. Among them, the research purpose, specific aim, focus, questions, objectives, and procedures of the methodological framework need to be taken into account.

Review recent dissertations in your specialization at your university. Ask your dissertation chair. JAN