One’s view of research plays a pivotal role in influencing his/her research study largely because of the associated inherent biases and predispositions. Therefore, it is of critical importance to understand these biases so as to mitigate any potential risks of it undermining the viability and reliability of your study.
Which philosophical worldview most closely aligns with your perspective and the way that you view problems in the world? How so?
Please select a philosophical worldview below:
The four worldviews are distinguished, namely positivist (or post-positivist), constructivist (or interpretivist), advocacy/participatory, and pragmatist.
How does understanding the connection between philosophical worldview and research methodology assist in your research approach?
Compare/contrast research philosophical worldview with that of a Christian worldview. Are there any areas that are problematic or do most philosophical worldviews appear to be congruent with a Christian worldview?
Example answers below: do not incorporate this same reply. This is given to provide a guide in helping you construct the paper.
Pragmatism confirms that truth is real, justified and evidence-based (Powell, 2019). It has a basis in practicality that recognizes the existence and importance of both the natural world and the social/psychological world (Robson & McCartan, 2016). This philosophy resonates with my perspective on life and the balance between the physical world in which we live, and the experiences and thoughts that shape the way we interact with it. This combination is seen in the study by Guangpu (2017), who showed that though genetic expression produced certain behavioral traits, cognitive ability was the final determiner in whether that behavior was exhibited. Thus, it is the combination of the natural world and the psychological makeup of the person that determines behaviors, confirming the need for one’s philosophical worldview to recognize both aspects of life.
How does understanding the connection between philosophical worldview and research methodology assist in your research approach?
Our philosophical worldview is foundational to how we interact with the world around us, including in our thoughts on research. A researcher with a positivistic worldview, for example, will likely focus on more quantitative research methods that deal with fact and observation (Robson & McCartan, 2016). However, care must be taken to understand the intricacies of our worldview and the limitations of research. Zyphur and Pierides (2017) logic that this approach tries to remove values from fact yet is unable to do so. To address real-world problems, positivist researchers must take into consideration the values of the communities being researched. The authors argue that to eliminate values is too simplistic and would devalue the purpose of the work. With a pragmatic outlook, research takes on a more holistic approach with a focus on “what works” rather than a dogmatic methodology (Robson & McCartan, 2016).
Compare/contrast research philosophical worldview with that of a Christian worldview. Are there any areas that are problematic or do most philosophical worldviews appear to be congruent with a Christian worldview?
The Christian worldview begins with a belief that the Bible is the infallible word of God and the framework for all that we say, do and believe (Tackett, 2006). The Bible holds that the physical world is a real creation (New International Version Bible, 1978/1984, Gen 1:1-25) and that humanity is made in God’s image (New International Version Bible, 1978/1984, Gen 1:26-27). A positivistic worldview would agree with the physicality of the created world but would discount the areas of faith that remain unseen (Robson & McCartan, 2016). Constructionism would discount the physical world and focus on more metaphysical aspects of the faith. Pragmatism and post-positivism provide credence to the reality of the physical world as well as the value to the unseen factors that set humanity apart. However, both create discord in the shifting nature of truth and knowledge.
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