, RSE ASSIGNMENT 03
Title: Comparing Ontological and Epistemological Assumptions in Research
Paradigms and Their Impact on Education
Introduction
When researchers study the world, they follow different ideas or paradigms to
guide their thinking. Each paradigm has beliefs about reality (ontology) and
how we gain knowledge (epistemology). Ontology asks “what is real?” while
epistemology asks “how do we know what we know?” These ideas affect how
studies are planned and understood. In this essay, I will compare six research
paradigms—positivism, interpretivism, critical theory, postmodernism, critical
realism, and decoloniality—by looking at their ontological and epistemological
views. I will also explain which of these paradigms helps education the most.
Positivism
Positivism is a way of doing research that believes there is one real world that
exists whether people believe in it or not. This means that things are true or
false no matter what people think or feel. Positivists believe that we can
understand this real world by using science. They trust facts that can be seen,
measured, and tested. They do not rely on opinions or feelings to find the truth
(Cohen, Manion & Morrison, 2007).
In education, positivism has had a big effect. It helps teachers and researchers
study how students learn and how teaching works. Positivist researchers use
numbers and data to find answers. They do things like surveys, experiments,
and tests. They look for patterns and try to find out what works best in schools.
For example, a researcher might want to know if a new way of teaching helps
students do better. They would look at test scores or attendance records to
see if there is a change.
One good thing about positivism is that it helps people make decisions based
on evidence. If research shows that students learn better with shorter lessons,
schools can change their schedules. This helps make teaching more effective
and helps students learn more. It also helps schools be more organized and
responsible.
Positivism also supports the use of standardized tests. These are tests that are
the same for all students. They help teachers see how well students are doing.
Title: Comparing Ontological and Epistemological Assumptions in Research
Paradigms and Their Impact on Education
Introduction
When researchers study the world, they follow different ideas or paradigms to
guide their thinking. Each paradigm has beliefs about reality (ontology) and
how we gain knowledge (epistemology). Ontology asks “what is real?” while
epistemology asks “how do we know what we know?” These ideas affect how
studies are planned and understood. In this essay, I will compare six research
paradigms—positivism, interpretivism, critical theory, postmodernism, critical
realism, and decoloniality—by looking at their ontological and epistemological
views. I will also explain which of these paradigms helps education the most.
Positivism
Positivism is a way of doing research that believes there is one real world that
exists whether people believe in it or not. This means that things are true or
false no matter what people think or feel. Positivists believe that we can
understand this real world by using science. They trust facts that can be seen,
measured, and tested. They do not rely on opinions or feelings to find the truth
(Cohen, Manion & Morrison, 2007).
In education, positivism has had a big effect. It helps teachers and researchers
study how students learn and how teaching works. Positivist researchers use
numbers and data to find answers. They do things like surveys, experiments,
and tests. They look for patterns and try to find out what works best in schools.
For example, a researcher might want to know if a new way of teaching helps
students do better. They would look at test scores or attendance records to
see if there is a change.
One good thing about positivism is that it helps people make decisions based
on evidence. If research shows that students learn better with shorter lessons,
schools can change their schedules. This helps make teaching more effective
and helps students learn more. It also helps schools be more organized and
responsible.
Positivism also supports the use of standardized tests. These are tests that are
the same for all students. They help teachers see how well students are doing.
