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Qualitative research has non positivistic approach to study the social phenomena. Qualitative research has some philosophical base to study that is called epistemology and ontology. This assignment on ontological and epistemological tenets of qualitative research and its positivist critique will consist five sections, first would be introduction of qualitative and quantitative research, second would be ontological tenets of qualitative research, third would be epistemological tenets of qualitative research, fourth would be positivist critiques and fifth would be conclusion.

(I) Introduction: Qualitative Research: Qualitative research is all about exploring the issues,
phenomena and human behavior. It deals with explanation of social phenomena in

natural settings. Quantitative research began with the experience, feelings emotions of individuals. It mainly helps to develop the theory. Qualitative research has non positivistic approach to study the social phenomena. According to Denzin and Lincoln (1994), qualitative research focuses on interpretation of phenomena in their natural settings to make sense in terms of the meanings people bring to these settings. Qualitative research involves collecting information about personal experiences, introspection, life story, interviews, observations, historical, interactions and visual text which are significant moments and meaningful in peoples' lives.

Qualitative research is concerned with words as opposed to statistical procedures. Alternatively, qualitative research seeks to produce results from some phenomenon, real-

world settings where the researchers endeavor is to avoid influencing the phenomena of interest and thus allowing it to progress naturally (Patton 2001: Golafshani 2003). Qualitative research can be defined as a method with the use of naturalistic and interpretive way to its subject matter. This means that qualitative researchers study things in their natural settings, attempting to make sense of or interpret phenomena in terms of the meanings people bring to them. Qualitative research involves the studied use and collection of a variety of empirical materials case study, personal experience, introspective, life story interview, observational, historical, interactional, and visual textsthat describe routine and problematic moments and meaning in individuals live (Denzin and Lincoln, 1994). Qualitative research emphasizes qualities of entities - the processes and meanings that occur naturally (Denzin & Lincoln, 2000).

Qualitative research is a type of research that seeks answers to a question; is systematically conducted and involves the collection of evidence. However, the uniqueness of qualitative research is that you may produce findings that were not determined in advance and also the findings may be applicable beyond the immediate boundaries of the study. It is especially effective if you want to obtain culturally specific information about the subjects involved; e.g. the values, behaviours, and opinions of a particular population.

Quantitative Research:
Quantitative research is an explaining phenomenon through the collecting quantitative or numerical data and analyse it in numerical or statistical manner. It mainly deals with

numbers. The quantitative research is an explaining phenomena by collecting numerical data that are analysed using mathematically based method. Quantitative research is the numerical and manipulation of observation for the purpose of describing and explaining the phenomena that those observation reflect. Quantitative research is explaining phenomena by collecting numerical data that are analysed by using statistical based methods. Quantitative research emphasis on collecting and analysing information in the form of numbers. It emphasis on the procedure of complaining groups or relating factors about individuals or groups in experiments correlation studies in experiments co-relational studies and surveys. (II) Ontology and its tenets of qualitative research: Blaikie (1993) describes the root definition of ontology as the science or study of being and develops this description for the social sciences to encompass claim about what exists, what it looks like, what units make it up and how those units interact with each other. As this definition indicates that ontology is the study of reality which existed in the natural world. It also describe that the how reality looks and what are all the patterns of those reality to interact with each others. Ontology study that the things are really existed in natural world or it is a just illusion .Ontological assumption affect our views on the reality whether our assumption have the base of reality or it is only a thought or imagination in our mind. Ontological position having one qualitative approach that is called constructivism. Ontology is a branch of philosophy that

concerned that what is existed in real world, what should exist. What kind of subjective and objective reality is existed in the reality? What kind of relationship is being in social reality? It concerned that what might be exist. Ontology is a description of relationship that being exists in reality. It is an explicit specification of conceptualization. Ontology describe our views on the nature of reality specifically is this an objective that existed already or subjective reality which is create by our mind. Constructivism:

Constructivism is a philosophical position that views knowledge as the outcome of experience mediated by one's own prior knowledge and the experience of others. In contrast to objectivism (Ayn Rand, 1957) which embraces a static reality that is independent of human cognition, constructivism holds that the only reality we can know is that which is represented by human thought. Each new conception of the world is mediated by prior-constructed realities that we take for granted. Constructivism is an ontological position that asserts that social phenomena and their meanings are continually being accomplished by social actors (Bryman).According to Bryman constructivism is depend on the social actors. Constructivism approach of ontology assumes that reality is the byproduct of social process. Whatever process is happening in the reality is the based on the social process eg. Marriage in the Indian society is a social process after that producing the baby or child is a product of that social process. So on constructivism view on the reality is very clear on the reality that reality is the byproduct of social process.

Constructivism is basically a theory based on observation and scientific study about how people learn. It says that people construct their own understanding and knowledge of the world, through experiencing things and reflecting on those experiences. When we encounter something new, we have to reconcile it with our previous ideas and experience, maybe changing what we believe, or maybe discarding the new information as irrelevant. In any case, we are active creators of our own knowledge. To do this, we must ask questions, explore, and assess what we know. (III) Epistemology and its tenets of qualitative research: Epistemology concern on the cause to existed reality. If this particular reality is existed then why it existed and how it existed these all the issues of reality is deals under the epistemology. What is knowledge and what are all the source and limits of knowledge (Eriction and Kovalian, 2008).Epistemology is the search of answer to the existed reality or being reality. Eriction and Kovalian discussed that what is the source of knowledge and what might be knowledge of reality. Blaikie (1993) describes Epistemology as the theory or science of methods or ground of knowledge. Blaikie argued that the epistemology is a way to find out the reality. He set an assumption that what are all the possible way to know about reality and which way what can exist. Chia (2002) describe epistemology as how and what is possible to know. Chia also focused on the best possible solution to find out the cause of existed reality in the natural world. As social world can study by the principle and process of natural world so that epistemological position of existed reality in the natural science can be study by some principle and process as natural sciences.

As ontology is the study of existed reality in natural or being reality in natural setting and epistemology is argued that why it existed and how it existed in the reality. Epistemology always attacks on existed reality in terms of find out truth or reality about particular existed reality. Epistemology has one tenets of qualitative research. Interpretiveism:

Interpretavist believe that the reality is relative and multiple. According to this tradition there can be more than one reality and more than a single structured way of accessing such realities. Lincoln and Guba (1985) explain that these multiple meanings are very difficult to interpret as they depend on other systems for meanings. The knowledge generated from this discipline is perceived through socially constructed and subjective interpretations (Carson et al. 2001; Hudson and Ozanne 1988).

Since interpretavist research knowledge is expected to generate from value-laden socially constructed interpretations researchers follow more personal and flexible research structures than in the positivist paradigms. Their research approaches have to be more receptive to meanings in human interaction and capable of making sense of what is perceived as multiple realities.

Interpretiveism believes that reality consist through the interpretation of peoples experience in the society. According to Willis (1995) interpretavist are antifundamentalist who believe that there is no single correct rout or particular method of knowledge.

According to Interpretiveism people know the reality through their experiences.

Constructed meaning through their experiences. Constructed meaning of reality or any phenomena reconstructed through the experience. Interpretiveism believes that there are multiple reality (Denzin and Linkon, 2003). As one research finding of any issue differ from another research findings of same issue, because both researcher has different experience as well as different way to interpreting findings. Knowledge is related to knower and it interpreted according to the aim of knower in terms of research findings. So at the end we can say reality is interpreted or views of an individuals experiences. (IV) Positivism:

The term "positivism" was first introduced by Auguste Comte, "Our doctrine is one which renders hypocrisy and oppression alike impossible. And it now stands forward as the result of all the efforts of the past, for the regeneration of order, which, whether considered individually or socially, is so deeply compromised by the anarchy of the present time. It establishes a fundamental principle by which true philosophy and sound polity are brought into correlation; a principle which can be felt as well as proved, and which is at once the keystone of a system and a basis of government." (Auguste Comte, 1798-1857).

A major tenet of logical positivism is its "thesis of the unity of science" (Hempel, 1969 & Kolakowski, 1968). In its broadest sense, positivism is a position that holds the goal of knowledge. In a positivist view of the world, science is seen as the way to get at truth, to understand the world well enough to predict and control it. In other words, Positivism

assumes an a priori which is discoverable through methodical, rigorous, careful observation that can be proven through testable and repeatable methodologies.

Many sociologists have argued that the logic, methods and procedure of natural sciences are applicable to the study of man. August Comte argued that the application of natural science methodology to the study of man would produce a positive science. In the positivism approach reality is based on the social and natural phenomena which linked one and another .Reality can be proved only through the empirical base without empirical base it can not possible. There is also cause and effect relationship in the society as well as in natural world for e.g. If rain is not happening any part of region then there would be draught, it means there is cause and effect relationship between rain and draught. Reality can be assume by the people only on the basis of available empirical evidiences.The cause which has happened in the past can be responsible for present and might be for future also. Cause and effect is universal law that if this particular cause will happen then this can create particular effect e.g. If we throw the ball up then automatically it come down rather than going only up, because here Neutons law of gravity is applicable. The positivist reality based on social and natural phenomena and empirical evidence of reality. Positivism believes in those realities which are based on the empirical observation. Positivism also believes in that reality which is the result of cause and effect relationship. The human behavior in society is based on the some cause and positivist approach believed those cause which affect the human behavior. In this universe the behavior of material is based on the natural or universal laws.

The positivist approach in sociology is most clearly evident in the work of Durkheim. In The Rule of Sociological Method, Durkheim has argued that fist and most fundamental rule is consider social fact as things. So the belief system ,customs ,institution o society the fact of social fact, should be consider as thing in the same way as the other activity is happening in the natural world. Durkheim said that in society everyone is acting by their own mind or psychology and the belief, social system, and institution is give direction to the society to act. (V) Positivist Critique of qualitative research: Qualitative research has been criticized, on the ground of positivist approach, because its general characteristics remain poorly understood and consequently its potential remains underdeveloped. A familiar criticism of qualitative methodology questions the value of its dependence on small samples which is believed to render it incapable of generalizing conclusions. Those researchers forcefully argue for the value of every single study providing that parameters are guided by the goals of the study, and have met the established objectives. Yin (1989) asserts that general applicability will result from the set of methodological qualities of the study, and the rigor with which the study is constructed. Attention to such rigor may serve to offset some of the criticisms of qualitative research as a 'soft approach' utilizing subjective procedures that provides corresponding weak explanations. Qualitative research can be criticized on the ground of positivist approach on the basis of its reliability, approach, research design, validity and analysis.

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Reliability:

Reliability refers to the consistency of a concept. This occurs when repeated measures whether it is done by someone else and at a different place, using the same measures produce identical or very similar results i.e. results can be directly comparable. As opposed to erratic, unstable or inconsistent results (Babbie 2004).

Qualitative researchers were willing to sacrifice validity and reliability of methods to be able to inquire into the minds of subjects; they were also willing to trade-of generalisability of findings (which is an important aims of quantitative research) in order to understand and interpret what was going on, which they felt was much more useful. Where positivist approach is strong in the validity and reliability. For example According to the Planning Commission, the poverty headcount ratio in 2011-12 was 25.7% in rural areas, 13.7% in urban and 21.9% for the country as a whole, as against 33.8%, 20.9% and 29.8%, respectively, in 2009-10(EPW, 2013) it shows its reliability and validity of the findings because it studied with positivist approach and if qualitative research will study the same problem then it can show only the experiences of the people with poverty, but we need reliable and authentic data to make policy to eradicate poverty which is not at all possible with qualitative research approach. Approach: The approach of measuring and quantifying phenomena as distinct and analytically separate is at the heart of quantitative inquiry and allows inferences to be drawn about the whole from the analysis of its parts. Reality is conceptualized as two-dimensional and

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explained by cause-and-effect relationships. This "way of knowing" is deductive and emphasizes observing truth as a singular objective reality.

The qualitative paradigm aims to understand the social world from the viewpoint of respondents, through detailed descriptions of their cognitive and symbolic actions, and through the richness of meaning associated with observable behavior In this paradigm, which rejects both a cause-and-effect construct and universal laws devoid of any socio historical context, the separation between researcher and respondent is diminished And it also called anti positivist approach.

Central to the qualitative paradigm is the belief that people assign meaning to the objective world, that their valued experiences are situated within a historical and social context, and that there can be multiple realities I embrace the conviction that realities cannot be studied independently from their contexts, and I affirm the position that qualitative methodology is legitimate and valuable, possessing distinctive characteristics that make it ideal for many types of investigations.

A qualitative approach can be judged to be appropriate when the research sets out to investigate phenomena that are not easy to quantify or measure accurately, or where such measurement would be arbitrary and inexact. If clear numerical measures could reasonably have been put in place, then consider whether a quantitative approach may have been more appropriate where it can looks like study with positivist approach. Qualitative research commonly measures personal experiences, process, personal values and beliefs, interaction and relationship. Qualitative research approach helps to

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developing theory where positivist approach helps to developing the policies and program. Research Design:

Holistic by nature, qualitative research is concerned with human beings in all of their complexities. The design of the study is dependent on the aims of the study, but it always includes an element of time. Contact is personal, lengthy, and there may be multiple meetings with respondents. From my experience, there have been 'aha' moments when I became aware of important components that needed to be examined, but had not been built into the study.

Those who are not familiar with qualitative methodology may be surprised by the sheer volume of data and the detailed level of analysis that results even when research is confined to a small number of subjects. Furthermore, a complete analysis can provide evidence for the relationship among variables and may stimulate additional research questions in the particular area of study.

According to Stake (1980 ) theory building is the search for pervasive and determining ingredients as well as the makings of laws. The descriptive qualitative study, however, proliferates rather than narrows. One is left with more to pay attention to rather than less. While Stake sees qualitative research as having some utility in theory building, he doesn't see theory building as its best use .Its ideal use, he contends, is for adding to the body of existing knowledge. Because of the universality of experiential understanding and the

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compatibility of qualitative research with that understanding, the ideal is to add to the existing experience and humanistic understanding of the reader.

There are a large number of qualitative methodologies. The qualitative research design should capture appropriate data and have an appropriate plan of analysis for the subject under investigation. It uses clear and reasonable justification for the methods chosen. The choice of sample and sampling method clearly set out (ideally including any shortcomings of the sample) and reasonable in qualitative research. It is important to remember that sampling in qualitative research is not purposive and random so people are usually chosen for qualitative research based on being key informer so we can not expect that the key informer give reliable and authentic data where positivist approach choose the large and random sampling and use purposive and random sampling so that it can give a reliable findings. Qualitative research is only a story telling on the basis of the information given by key informers but in positivist approach the whole phenomena of the problem will be clear and we can trust on that finding because finding is the based on the information which has been given by large group of people.

Validity: Assessing the validity of qualitative research is very different from assessing that of quantitative research with positivist approach. Qualitative research is much more focused on demonstrating the causes of bias rather than eliminating them. The finding of qualitative research is always suspicious because the status of the researcher can profoundly affect the data. For example, a middle-aged woman and an 18-year-old man

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are likely to get different responses to questions about sexual activity when interviewing a group of teenage boys. It is important to consider age, sex, ethnicity and insider status (such as where the interviewer or researcher is part of the group being researched). The researcher can also profoundly influence the data by use of questions, opinions, judgements and so on. Positivist approach always denied the validity of qualitative research.

The validity of data influenced the finding of research question, so for we have observed that the validity of data of qualitative research is not authentic so it is not possible to believe on the findings of qualitative research at the same time the validity of positivist approach research is more authentic and valid so the finding will be also valid.

Analysis:

Qualitative data analysis is very different from quantitative analysis which uses the positivist approach.The main way to assess this is by how clearly the analysis is reported and whether the analysis is approached systematically. Qualitative researchers use the adjective rich to describe data that are in-depth, convincing, compelling and detailed enough that the reader feels that they have achieved some level of insight into the research participants experience. It is also important to know the context of the data where they came from, what prompted them, what they pertains to, and so on. It is somewhat manipulating the data or views given by the key informer in the qualitative research whereas positivist approach always think about its

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way to analysis data that should not looks like manipulating the data or responses which has been received from the respondents.

(VI) Conclusion:

It can be summarized that good qualitative research is difficult and challenging to undertake. Data manufactured through artificial research settings such as interviews and focus groups restricts the information available to the researcher and it also leads to biased results since the respondent is aware of the researcher's need. The positivist researcher might strive to manufacture data by discovering objectively the truth hidden in the subject's mind; while interpretavist tries to collect naturally occurring data by understanding the respondent's response in their own terms. Reality has to be constructed through the researcher's interpretation and ability to communicate the respondent's reality; hence as Silverman states the researcher has to be a part of the research to conduct a successful research.

Qualitative research pays considerable attention to the action it seeks to bring about. In this respect there are efforts to ensure that the gap between theory and practice is minimized, or more commonly, that theory and practice interact. Qualitative researchers are concerned to 'build' theory from the ground of the experience of practitioners; to research face to face levels of interaction; to focus on the everyday or routine. These are allied to a fundamental respect for individual human beings, sometimes exemplified by a concentration upon the 'underdog'. Qualitative researchers do not seek the 'detached

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objectivity' of the quantitative researcher. Rather he/she tries to engage practitioners in his/her research and to report findings in terms which are familiar to the subjects of investigation. Ultimately, it is this engagement which gives subjects a stake in, and an understanding of, the research. This is considered the basis for action and change. Indeed we might consider an understanding of action and change as the stock-in-trade of the qualitative research.

References:
Jayaram, N. (1989). Sociology: Methods and Theories. Macmillan. Bryman, A. (2008). Social Research Method. Oxford University Press. Cresewell, J. W. (2013). Qualitative Inquary and Research Design. Sage. Editorial, E. & Political Weekly (2013). The Problems with poverty numbers. Economic & Political Weekly, XLVIII, 7-8. Heald, M. H. (2013). Sociology Themes and Perspectives. New Delhi: Oxford University Press. Neuman, W. L. (2011). Social Research Method, qualitative and Quantitative and quantitative Approach. Pearson. W Lawrence, N. (1997). Social Research Method. Library of Cataloging in Publication.