Episode 3: Unveiling Paradigms in the Social Sciences
Episode 3 marks a pivotal moment in our journey, where we unravel the distinctions between theory and paradigm. This episode is dedicated to unpacking key concepts in social science related to paradigms and their real-world applications.
Transcript
Hello, wonderful listeners! I trust you had a sun-filled weekend. Now that you're back in the academic groove, let's dive into Episode 3 of MAIS Perspectives.
Before we start, just a reminder that you should be well on your way with assignment 2 by now; if you have any questions or concerns about the assignment, please contact me or post in the Moodle forum.
Also this week, you should all be working in groups to prepare your post for the Unit 4 forum. I'm excited to read through all of your posts next week and see where the discussions take us!
Unit 3 marks a pivotal moment in our journey, where we unravel the distinctions between theory and paradigm. This episode is dedicated to unpacking key concepts in social science related to paradigms and their real-world applications.
Let's start by unpacking the term "paradigm." Beyond everyday usage, it signifies a pattern or model, but in the realm of academic research, especially in social sciences, it takes on a more profound meaning. Thomas Kuhn, with his groundbreaking work "The Structure of Scientific Revolutions" in 1962, introduced the concept of research paradigms, igniting a transformative shift in scholarly discourse.
According to Kuhn, a paradigm is a shared set of beliefs, theories, methods, and assumptions within a scientific community at a given time. Paradigms guide scientific inquiry, shaping the way scientists observe, interpret, and explain the world. Kuhn challenges the linear view of scientific progress, proposing that it occurs through revolutionary shifts known as paradigm shifts.
Scientific progress, according to Kuhn, involves two phases: normal science and scientific revolutions. Normal science operates within an established paradigm, focusing on refining theories and making predictions. However, as anomalies accumulate, a crisis emerges, paving the way for a scientific revolution and a subsequent paradigm shift. Kuhn emphasizes that these shifts are influenced by social, psychological, and cultural factors, requiring a collective mindset shift within the scientific community.
Our interdisciplinary journey introduces various research paradigms, each shaping the research process in distinctive ways. In this unit, we encounter paradigms such as interpretivism, positivism, pragmatism, and more.
Fazloullar's (2012) article offers an insightful overview of these paradigms, stressing the importance of aligning theoretical perspectives with research goals. In the show notes for this episode I’ve included a Table that provides a handy summary of major paradigms in the social sciences, highlighting their unique characteristics.
These paradigms are not rigid or mutually exclusive; they evolve, overlap, and can be combined in interdisciplinary approaches. As we delve into sociology, anthropology, psychology, political science, and economics, each discipline brings its own set of paradigms and theoretical frameworks to the table.
In the practical realm, paradigms come to life through research endeavors. Rapley's (2018) exploration of the interpretivist paradigm for example sheds light on teacher pedagogical practices. By adopting an interpretivist approach, Rapley acknowledges the complex dynamics within educational settings that might be overlooked by traditional positivist methods.
Kaushik and Walsh (2019) provide insights into the pragmatist paradigm in social work research. Pragmatism, emphasizing the practical utility of knowledge, aligns seamlessly with the goals of social work. The authors advocate for interdisciplinary collaboration and stakeholder engagement, showcasing how pragmatism adapts to the complexities of social work practice.
In the Whiting video, we witness positivism and post-positivism in action within organizational research. Positivism seeks objective knowledge, while post-positivism emphasizes testing theories for falsification. The video underscores the importance of considering your philosophical position, as it significantly influences data collection and analysis in qualitative research.
I hope this week's exploration of paradigms didn't overwhelm you with too much information. The concept of paradigms is so important that I felt compelled to elaborate on it in a whole episode of MAIS perspectives.
Thank you all for tuning in to Episode 3 of MAIS Perspectives. Your curiosity and engagement make this journey truly enriching. Stay inspired, and I'll catch you in the next episode!
