SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH PARADIGMS AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICS - SCIENCE - 2024

The scientific research paradigms are schemes used to study reality, which will guide the research to be carried out (the design, collection and analysis of data). In the scientific field, a methodological paradigm is a way of seeing the world that implies a way of studying it; that is, a specific methodology.

Starting in the second half of the 20th century, the approaches or paradigms within scientific research have been divided into the quantitative paradigm and the qualitative paradigm.

The experiments are framed within the quantitative paradigm

On the one hand, the quantitative approach gives more importance to the collection of numerical data and statistical analysis. On the other hand, the qualitative approach considers that in order to fully understand what is being investigated it is necessary to understand meanings, contexts and descriptions through interpretive analysis.

Critics of the quantitative paradigm consider it insufficient to explain reality, focused more on theories than on subjects. Furthermore, they consider that the data generated from the quantitative paradigm are superficial.

Similarly, critics of the qualitative paradigm consider it biased based on the researcher's interpretation, and establish that the data obtained cannot be generalized.

At present there is less and less discussion about which type of research is better and both are considered to provide valuable information based on the way in which the phenomenon is conceptualized. It is currently thought that neither of the two can replace the other.

Characteristics of the quantitative paradigm

- He is also known as a positivist and empiricist-analyst.

- There is a great emphasis on answering why a phenomenon occurs, which leads to looking for causes, explaining, controlling, predicting and checking.

- Experiments are used as a way to find causal relationships between variables.

- In the quantitative paradigm emphasis is placed on the study without intervention, as a mere objective and neutral observer of the phenomena studied.

- The generalization of knowledge in the form of universal laws is sought.

- Research designs have structured processes to avoid cognitive biases. For example, in double-blind clinical trials, in which the person is assigned to an experimental group or a control group, no actor knows which group they are in is sought to avoid the researcher's expectation skewing the data.

- Investigations within this paradigm typically have a structure that starts from a general theory, from which specific hypotheses are generated, variables are proposed in quantifiable terms and data is collected that will later be analyzed.

- With repetition of studies, hypotheses can be confirmed or refuted. This deductive and confirmatory process is not only structured but also linear; In other words, at the time of designing the research, it is decided what to focus on, even before choosing the way to collect information.

Types of quantitative designs

Quantitative research designs are divided into experimental (where variables are controlled to find causal relationships) and non-experimental (seeking to describe or relate variables). There are several types:

Descriptive

It is a non-experimental design that seeks to explore and describe what the phenomena consist of. They are usually topics with little research.

Correlational

It is a non-experimental design that seeks to establish relationships between different variables, as a prior step to establishing whether these relationships are causal.

True experimental

It is an experimental design that seeks to establish cause-effect through the control and manipulation of all the variables involved in the phenomenon.

Quasi-experimental

It is an experimental design that also seeks to establish cause-effect; however, the variables are not fully controlled. For example, subjects may not be randomly assigned to a particular group.

Qualitative paradigm characteristics

This paradigm is also known as the constructivist and qualitative-interpretive paradigm. It was born as an opposition to positivism and the quantitative paradigm, and as a challenge to the need for objectivity for the study of phenomena.

It is widely used in social sciences, where human behavior and social phenomena are studied.

Their characteristics are:

Study of meanings

In this approach the central point is the study of meanings, since it is considered that the facts that are studied in the quantitative approach as objectives have assigned values, and that in order to study them effectively, the researcher cannot be detached from his subjects.

It seeks to understand

This approach does not seek to generalize or predict phenomena, since they are also considered too complex and context-dependent to have a universal explanation. Instead, it seeks to understand, interpret and give meaning in a holistic way.

Understand the subject in its entirety

This type of research seeks to identify the perspective of the subject as a whole, including their values, behaviors, context, etc., to find what are the motivations behind their behaviors. Open interviews are often used to achieve this goal.

Flexible research design

Something that characterizes this type of research is that there is no rigid structure regarding the research design, although there are three moments that can be generalized to all its research designs: discovery, codification and relativization of data.

Inductive process

The qualitative research process is inductive and exploratory, and is considered in an interactive, non-linear way, since although it can be based on assumptions, the same process can be transformed at any time during the research.

Scientific rigor

Since it is a paradigm of scientific research, it also seeks to guarantee scientific rigor as much as possible. This is done using different researchers, determining the degree of agreement they have about the phenomenon and guaranteeing that the information collected is really meaningful for the subjects studied.

Qualitative design types

Grounded theory

Grounded theory designs try not to be based on previous studies or theories, but on data obtained from research.

Phenomenological

These give more relevance to the individual subjective experiences of the subjects or groups studied.

Narratives

In this type of design they focus on the life stories and experiences of people. It is done through autobiographies, diaries, among other tools.

Ethnographic

Ethnographic research designs seek to study the beliefs, values ​​and experiences of certain groups or cultures.

Investigation action

This design seeks not only to study but to modify reality, solving problems.

References

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