RESEARCH

RESEARCH METHODS
METHODS
Code
Code 3686
3686

Lecture
Lecture Five
Five

PROF. DR. NOMANA ANJUM

 Unit Five

PHILOSOPHY OF RESEARCH

5.1 Introduction
5.2 Positivism and Scientific Enquiry
5.3 Structure of Science and the Nature of Knowledge
5.4 Hypothesis
 PHILOSOPHY OF RESEARCH

5.1 Introduction

Research
Researchphilosophy
philosophydeals
deals with
withthe
thesource,
source,nature
natureand
and
development
development ofof knowledge.
knowledge. InInsimple
simpleterms,
terms, aaresearch
research
philosophy
philosophyisisbelief
beliefabout
aboutthe
theways
ways in
inwhich
whichdata
dataabout
about
aaphenomenon
phenomenonshould
shouldbe
becollected,
collected,analyzed
analyzedand
anduse
used.
d.
 PHILOSOPHY OF RESEARCH
5.1 Introduction
PHILOSOPHY OF RESEARCH

5.1 Introduction

Each stage of the research process is based on assumptions about the

sources and the nature of knowledge.
The research philosophy will reflect the author’s important assumptions
and these assumptions serve as base for the research strategy.
Generally, research philosophy has many branches related to a wide
range of disciplines.

There are four main research philosophies:

Pragmatism
Positivism
Realism
Interpretivism 
PHILOSOPHY OF RESEARCH

5.2 Positivism and Scientific Enquiry

Positivism is the view that the only authentic

knowledge is scientific knowledge, and that such
knowledge can only come from positive affirmation of
theories through strict scientific method (techniques for
investigating phenomena based on gathering observable,
empirical and measurable evidence, subject to specific
principles of reasoning).
PHILOSOPHY OF RESEARCH

5.2 Positivism and Scientific Enquiry

There
Thereare 
are five
fivemain
mainprinciples
principles behind
 behindPositivism:
Positivism:

The 
The logic
logicofofinquiry
inquiry is isthe
thesame
sameacross 
across all
allsciences
sciences (both
 (bothsocial
social
and
andnatural).
natural).
The 
The goal
goalofofinquiry
inquiry is isto 
to explain
explain and 
 and predict
predict,,and
andthereby
therebytoto
discover 
discover necessary
necessaryand andsufficient
sufficientconditions
conditions for forany
anyphenomenon.
phenomenon.
Research
Researchshould
shouldbe  be empirically
empiricallyobservable
observable with
 withhuman
humansenses,
senses,
and
andshould
shoulduse 
use inductive
inductivelogiclogic to
 todevelop
developstatements
statementsthatthatcan
can
be 
be tested
tested..
Science
Scienceis 
is not
not the
 thesame
sameas  as common
commonsensesense,,andandresearchers
researchersmust
must
be
becareful
carefulnot
notto
tolet
letcommon
commonsense sense bias
bias their
 theirresearch.
research.
Science
Scienceshould
shouldbe  be judged
judgedby bylogic
logic,,and
andshould
shouldbe beas 
as value-free
value-free as
 as
possible.
possible.The
Theultimate
ultimategoalgoalofofscience
scienceisisto
toproduce 
produce knowledge
knowledge,,
regardless
regardlessof ofpolitics,
politics,morals,
morals,values,
values,etc.
etc.
PHILOSOPHY OF RESEARCH
5.3 Structure of Science and the Nature of Knowledge

Science consists of two things: a body of knowledge and

the process by which that knowledge is produced. This second
component of science provides us with a way of thinking and
knowing about the world.
Commonly, we only see the "body of knowledge" component of
science. We are presented with scientific concepts in statement
form – Earth is round, electrons are negatively charged, our
genetic code is contained in our DNA, the universe is 13.7
billion years old – with little background about the process that
led to that knowledge and why we can trust it. But there are a
number of things that distinguish the scientific process and give
us confidence in the knowledge produced through it.
PHILOSOPHY OF RESEARCH
5.3 Structure of Science and the Nature of Knowledge

what is the scientific process?

The scientific process is a way of building knowledge and

making predictions about the world in such a way that they are
testable.
The question of whether Earth is flat or round could be put to
the test, it could be studied through multiple lines of research,
and the evidence evaluated to determine whether it supported
a round or flat planet.
Different scientific disciplines typically use different methods
and approaches to investigate the natural world, but testing lies
at the core of scientific inquiry for all scientists.
PHILOSOPHY OF RESEARCH
5.3 Structure of Science and the Nature of Knowledge

what is the scientific process?

As scientists analyze and interpret their data , they

generate hypotheses, theories, or laws which help explain their
results and place them in context of the larger body of scientific
knowledge.
These different kinds of explanations are tested by scientists
through additional experiments, observations, modeling, and
theoretical studies.
Thus, the body of scientific knowledge builds on previous ideas
and is constantly growing. 
PHILOSOPHY OF RESEARCH
5.3 Structure of Science and the Nature of Knowledge
what is the scientific way f thinking?

A scientific way of thinking is something that anyone can use, at

any time, whether or not they are in the process of developing
new knowledge and explanations. Thinking scientifically
involves asking questions that can be answered analytically by
collecting data or creating a model and then testing one's ideas.
A scientific way of thinking inherently includes creativity in
approaching explanations while staying within the confines of
the data.
Thinking scientifically does not mean rejecting your culture and
background, but recognizing the role that they play in your way
of thinking.
PHILOSOPHY OF RESEARCH

5.4 Hypothesis

A supposition or explanation (theory) that is provisionally

accepted in order to interpret certain events or
phenomena, and to provide guidance for further
investigation.

A hypothesis may be proven correct or wrong, and must be

capable of refutation. If it remains unrefuted by facts, it is
said to be verified or corroborated.
PHILOSOPHY OF RESEARCH

5.4 Hypothesis and Research Approach

The relevance of hypotheses to the study is the main

distinctive point between deductive and inductive
approaches. 
PHILOSOPHY OF RESEARCH

5.4 Hypothesis and Research Approach

Research approach can be divided into three types:
Deductive research approach
Inductive research approach
Abductive research approach

The relevance of hypotheses to the study is the main

distinctive point between deductive and inductive
approaches. Deductive approach tests the validity of
assumptions (or theories/hypotheses) in hand, whereas
inductive approach contributes to the emergence of new
theories and generalizations.
Abductive research, on the other hand, starts with ‘surprising
facts’ or ‘puzzles’ and the research process is devoted their
explanation.
PHILOSOPHY OF RESEARCH

5.4 Hypothesis and Research Approach

Deductive Research Approach

If you have formulated a set of hypotheses for your

dissertation that need to be confirmed or rejected during
the research process you would be following a deductive
approach.
PHILOSOPHY OF RESEARCH

5.4 Hypothesis and Research Approach

Inductive Research Approach

Alternatively, inductive approach does not involve formulation
of hypotheses. It starts with research questions and aims
and objectives that need to be achieved during the
research process.
PHILOSOPHY OF RESEARCH

5.4 Hypothesis and Research Approach

Abductive
AbductiveResearch
ResearchApproach
Approach

In
Inabductive
abductiveapproach,
approach,the theresearch
researchprocess
processisisdevoted
devoted
to
toexplanation
explanationof
of  ‘incomplete
 ‘incompleteobservations’,
observations’,‘surprising
‘surprising
facts’
facts’or
or‘puzzles’
‘puzzles’specified
specifiedat
at the
thebeginning
beginningofofthe
thestudy.
study.
Discussion