FIELD METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGY
DE TORRES | LECTURE 1
EPISTEMOLOGY, POSITIVISIM, POSTPOSITIVISM
Topic Outline:
● Qualitative vs. Quantitative Research
● Introduction to Qualitative Research Postpositivism
● Paradigms
● Qualitative Methodology • Ideas and even the particular identity of a
researcher influence what they observe and
QUALITATIVE VS. QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH therefore impacts what they conclude.
• Pursues objective answers by attempting to
Basic Criticism of Basic Criticism of recognize and work with such biases with
Quantitative research Qualitative research the theories and knowledge that the theorist
develops.
Preoccupied with
control
Subjective • Thrive to know what is true and what is not.
• Asserts that genuine knowledge can only
Reductionist Biased arise from empirical and logical foundations
Results not rather than speculations.
Top down
generalized
Unable to identify Social Constructivism
Misses big picture
causal relationship • Individuals seeks understanding of the
world.
INTRODUCTION TO QUALITATIVE RESEARCH • Individuals develop subjective meaning of
• More inclined with exploring the quality and their experiences.
meaning of a particular activity. • Inductively develop theory or pattern of
• Research study that investigates the quality of meaning.
relationships, activities, situations, or • Qualitative; focuses on subjective
materials. experiences.
• There is a greater emphasis on holistic • Individuals are active participants in the
description. creation of their own knowledge (Lev
• Exploration of a phenomena using open- Vygotsky, N.D.)
ended questions.
• Triangulation/Member checking – Assessment PARADIGMS
of validity through cross-checking sources of
information.
Postpositivism
Epistemology
• The “scientific method", “science”, empirical
• How and what we know.
science, positivism, postpositivism,
• Branch of philosophy concerned with theory quantitative research.
of knowledge.
• Comet, Mill, Durkheim, Newton, Locke
• Thinking about the nature of knowledge; the o Determination – Examine the causes
scope, validity, and reliability of claims to that influence outcomes.
knowledge.
VARIAS MARRIANE NICOLAI | 1
EPISTEMOLOGY, POSITIVISIM, POSTPOSITIVISM
o Reductionism – Reduces ideas into with theory generation and the
variables that constitute hypotheses exploration of meanings.
and questions. • Interpretation using theory or lens.
o Empirical observation and • Theory determines interpretation of data;
measurement what you see depends on your lens.
o Theory verification – Begins with a • The interpretation of data depends upon the
theory; collect data to support or refute theoretical framework informed by our
the theory; revise theory. epistemological stance; empiricist vs. social
• Methods constructivist.
o Experimental, survey, causal-
comparative, observational, interviews.
Constructivism
• Understanding – Individuals seek to
understand the world they live in.
• Multiple participants meeting
• Social and historical construction.
Subjective meanings are negotiated socially
and historically through interaction with
others.
• Methods
o Interviews, Focus group discussion.
QUALITATIVE METHODOLOGIES
• Methodology – A general approach to
studying research topics.
• Method – A specific research technique.
• The focus on meaning-making
o Shared concern in meaning or how
people make sense of the world and
how they experience events.
o Focus on the quality and texture of
experience, rather than the causal
relationships.
• The turn to interpretation
o Meanings attributed to events by
participants and researchers.
o Interested in the interpretation of these
meanings by participants and
researchers.
o Often wishes to describe and explain
the phenomena but never predict.
• Theory-generation
o Qualitative methodologies are open-
ended, inductive research concerned
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