Question

Why would you select one paradigm over another? What are the benefits of each?

When searching for the research evidence – what elements of quality should be applied? Be sure to include references to support your statements.

Answer 1

The approach or a model to conduct a research validated and practised by the research community for hundreds of years is known as the research paradigm. There are mainly two approaches, the positivist approach and interpretivism approach. Every researcher utilizes these approaches as a guideline for developing a research methodology to improve eth validity and appropriateness. There are many other paradigms emerged from these two paradigms.

Mixed-method paradigm or mixed-method methodology is one of the emerged methodology used especially in social science research. The quantitative research methodology is the most favoured approach to conducting the research. The conceptual framework or paradigm, accepted by a community of researchers gives them an in-depth guideline to conduct the research.

1.     Positivist Paradigm

The positivist paradigm believes in the hypothesis testing. It is the widely accepted approach because of its empirical nature to study facts and mainly used in quantitative research. Positivists believe in the probabilistic model and generalization of study findings in other situations regardless of the study environment. In some situations like studying human behaviour, the generalization could not be applied.

2.     Interpretive Paradigm

This approach is mainly used in qualitative research in the social sciences. The qualitative researcher believes that the human behaviour is multilayered and it cannot be generalized, unlike a scientific variable. The interpretive approach believes in studying human behaviour in the real life rather than in the controlled environment.

The positivism is directed by objectivity, measurability, predictability, probability, controllability and control laws that can predict the nature of variables. On the other hand, interpretivism is governed by subjectivity and studying the variables in a real-life setting and does not support generalization. Both the paradigms have their own value and significance in the growth and development of research.

The use of hierarchies of evidence will aid in grade research studies according to their quality. Often this simplifications may lead to misconceptions and abuses. The research pyramid or hierarchy of evidence acts as a guide for obtaining the evidence. It can classify the research from the least reliable (base) to the most reliable (apex).

Pyramid :

The base of the Pyramid or Level 7 represents ideas, opinions, anecdotes and editorials. This is the least reliable evidence.

Case-controlled studies, case series and case reports or Level 6

Cohort Studies or Level 5

Random Control Trials or Level 4

Critically-Appraised Individual Articles /Article Synopses or Level 3

Critically Appraised Topics or Evidence Syntheses or Level 2

The Apex of the Pyramid or Levels is the Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis

The effective use of search strategies like PICO will also aid in collecting research evidence.

REFERENCE

Bone and Spine. 2015. What is the Hierarchy of Evidence? Retrieved from http://boneandspine.com/what-is-hierarchy-of-evidence

Www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/intuition-healthcare/how-do-healthcare-providers-us

Wilczynski, N. And mckibbon, A. 2013. Finding the evidence. In T. Hoffmann, S. Bennett & C. Del Mar (Eds.), Evidence-Based Practice Across the Health Professions. (2nd ed.). Chatswood, Sydney: Churchill Livingstone, Elsevier.

Cohen, Louis, et al. Research Methods in Education, 5th Edition. London, 2000

Stephen K. Antwi, Kasim H. Qualitative and Quantitative Research Paradigms in Business Research: A Philosophical Reflection, European Journal of Business and Management, ISSN 2222-1905 (Paper) ISSN 2222-2839 (Online) Vol.7, No.3, 2015

http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download;jsessionid=B761A90E8654CE2703475B3E74FCAEEF?doi=10.1.1.672.3361&rep=rep1&type=pdf