We are conducting both interviews and constructing a questionnaire. However, we have problems in deciding on research philosophy/paradigm, as the criteria of quality are conflicting for the two methods.
i.e. We interviewed 25 people. For the survey we got 350 respondents. Is it possible to use post positivism paradigm eventhough we are only conducting 25 interviews?
I believe positivist (Questionnaire) will be the best option. Qualitative research shall be conducted for new theories.
I believe this video will help you
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kf8wGvunyG8&index=2&list=PLwVp5s2iKJCR2auUj9YW6ptNTLTxhBRkH
Hello,
In any case it is going to be a post-positivist approach since you were studying on the facts that can be acquired imperfectly and on probabilistic basis. Constructivism may require experimental study. I cannot say more about it because I dont know about purpose and scope of your study. I suggest you to read about Popper’s falsificationism. It would be a helpful case to understand to concept of post positivist approach. Thus, here the question should be if 25 interview would be suffice to represent the population. In many studies I saw that it is enough to conduct analysis and to present assumptions, so in other words, it can be sufficiently imperfect from post positivist point of view.
Bests,
In theory should not mix your paradigms. Leads to tricky explanations in rationalisations.
There is no problem (as I see it) in applying positivism and stating that as your paradigm but also undertaking some qualitative investigation (or vice-versa). Most research employs qualitative methods at some stage (one could even cite literature reviews here), whatever the paradigm (well probably with the exception of a grounded theory study)
I prefer to approach most research as a postpositivist (obtaining data using whatever method is necessary).
The field you refer to has been dominated by the positivist paradigm and ignoring that could be seen to detract from perceived credibility, therefore (for that reason) probably always best to include.
Wonderful. Thank you all for great feedback. Then we will apply the post positivism paradigm!
It sounds like what you are doing could be mixed methods research, where you have collected both qualitative and quantitative data. In that field, one of the most widely used paradigms is pragmatism -- which a takes very different approach from paradigms that ask about the nature of reality (ontology) and the possibility of truth (epistemology).
Here are ResearchGate links to two of my papers on pragmatism as a paradigm:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/265335316_Pragmatism_as_a_Paradigm_for_Social_Research
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/240730449_Paradigms_Lost_and_Pragmatism_Regained_Methodological_Implications_of_Combining_Qualitative_and_Quantitative_Methods
Article Pragmatism as a Paradigm for Social Research
Article Paradigms Lost and Pragmatism Regained: Methodological Impli...
Thanks for the reply David Morgan. Sounds interesting, and true, as we are mixing methods! Will read the articles tomorrow morning, thanks so much for providing them.
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