Interpretive and Positivist Approaches

Research Methods — Week 10. From the comprehensive notes.

What does an interpretive approach prioritize?

Participants’ subjective understandings and meanings in context.

What does a positivist approach prioritize?

Objective measurement and explanation of patterned relationships.

Can case research be positivist or interpretive?

Yes. The research method does not by itself determine the underlying paradigm.

What should inform the choice of research method?

The question, the phenomenon, and the researcher’s assumptions about knowledge and reality.

How do surveys, experiments, and case studies contribute differently?

Surveys gather broad standardized reports; experiments evaluate manipulated conditions; case studies examine cases in depth and context.