K205 Module 5: Philosophical Worldview and Methodological Coherence

Define philosophical worldview, ontology, epistemology and methodological coherence

Philosophical worldview: a set of beliefs related to one’s general orientation to the world and the nature of research. This dictates what a researcher believes is knowledge

Ontology: General orientation to the world. Belief in the nature of truth and reality.

Epistemology: how we acquire the knowledge about truth and reality

Methodological coherence: connecting one’s worldview with their research approach and source of data in kinesiology research

Understand how sources of data, research approaches, and the researcher’s philosophical worldview are connected

We cannot use a post positivist worldview to analyze qualitative research eg. involving interview transcripts because in qualitative research, multiple truths exist and the ideology is very subjective. Whereas, post positivist takes on a very objective worldview.

Describe the assumptions of post-positivism

Post-positivism: 

1. Ontology = Critical Realist

Single objective truth. Researchers try to discover as close to that truth as possible and they acknowledge they may never discover it

2. Epistemology = Modified Objectivist

Researchers try to be as objective as possible. However, they do acknowledge that they cannot completely remove themselves from the research process, so they do have some influence. 

3. Other assumptions: 

• Relies on the scientific method: hypothesis testing

• Determinism: establishing cause and effect relationship between two or more variables

• Reductionism: reducing ideas to small, testable research questions

Sources of data: quantitative data

Describe the assumptions of constructivism

1. Ontology = Relativist

• Multiple truths/realties exist. Individuals’ experiences are shaped by their personal, cultural, historical and social perspectives

2. Epistemology = Subjectivist

• Researchers recognize that their own realities and views shape the research process. Researches cannot be removed from the construction and interpretation of the findings

Sources of data: qualitative

Describe the assumptions of Pragmatism

Incorporates all research approaches to best address their research question

Find solution to a problem

Sources of data: mixed methods

Describe the assumptions of Transformative worldview

Researchers work with marginalized communities towards a meaningful change 

Focus on reform and change through research (not just as an end result)

Sources of data: typically qualitative; can incorporate quantitative 

Describe the assumptions of Two-Eyed Seeing worldview

Bringing the two knowledges tgt without saying one is superior to the other: 

1. One eye sees strengths of European-derived knowledge

2. One eye sees strengths of various indigenous knowledge 

Sources of data: qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods

Identify the worldview of a study from an abstract or purpose statement

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Understand how a philosophical worldview will inform your research proposal/project

Philosophical worldview informs your research approach (qual, quant, mixed methods) which then informs your sources of data/types of data you will collect

Understand the role of theory in quantitative and qualitative research approaches

Role of theory in → Quantitative research approaches

1. Becomes a framework of your study

2. Guides your hypotheses

   1. Directs researchers towards which variable are important to measure

Role of theory in -→ Qualitative research approaches

1. Used as a broad explanation for behavior and attitudes, and may include variables, construct and hypothesis

2. Theoretical lens or perspective: overall orienting lens

3. Theory becomes the end point: grounded theory

4. No explicit theory

Deductive approach

• A phenomenon is observed

• A theory is developed to explain why it occured

• The theory is tested through research and is either supported, unsupported or revised

Inductive approach

• A phenomenon is observed

• Data is collected on the possible reasons why it occurs and trends in the data are examined

• A theory is developed from this data to explain the phenomenon

Abductive approach

Includes inductive and deductive approach