Basics of philosophy of science

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Basics of philosophy of science"

Emory Perry
5 years ago
Views:

1 23E80101 Qualitative Business Research Methods Basics of philosophy of science Ilona Mikkonen, DSc. Philosophy Philosophy in general means study of very fundamental human problems e.g. existence, knowledge, values, ethics etc. In everyday language equals roughly to a person s beliefs or worldview 1

2 Philosophy of science In the context of science, philosophy refers to systematic critical evaluation of what science is and what science should be Philosophy of science Philosophy of science deals with three basic questions What is there in the world and what is the nature of reality? (Ontology) What is knowledge and what are the sources and limits of knowledge? (Epistemology) How can knowledge about a given issue/problem be produced?(methodology) 2

3 Research philosophy Together these form paradigms a coherent set of assumptions about ontology, epistemology, and methodology They are usually interdependent when you pick one, you get the others You always have one, regardless of whether you are explicit about it or not Epistemology Ontology Methodology Paradigm 6 3

4 Main research paradigms POSITIVISM CONSTRUCTIVISM Natural sciences Quantitative research POST- POSITIVISM Both quantitative and qualitative research Social sciences Qualitative research 1/8/ Positivism Post-positivism Critical theory Constructivism Nature of reality There is one, universal reality, independent of social actors, that can be captured There is an universal reality, but it s only partially apprehensible, and social actors experience it in different ways. There are multiple realities that have taken shape over time historically and through power relations. There are multiple realities that are locally constructed by social actors. Sometimes called naïve realism. Sometimes called (critical) realism. Sometimes called historical realism Sometimes called relativism. Nature of findings Findings form an accurate, true picture of the reality (if everything done correctly) Findings form an close enough approximation of the reality Findings mediated by values Findings are a representation of a local reality Role of the researcher The researcher is an objective, neutral observer who should avoid all bias Complete objectivism is not possible, but should be approached as much as possible The researcher aims to empower and help oppressed groups The researcher is a cocreator of knowledge; objectivity is impossible, biases should be acknowledged. This is called objectivism This is called subjectivism Appropriate methods for data collection Quantitative methods (direct measurement of the world) Quantitative and qualitative methods (experiments; surveys, interviews, observation, action research, case studies, grounded theory) Mostly qualitative methods, but can also apply quantitative methods Qualitative methods (interviews, ethnographic methods, projective techniques, visual analysis, discourse analysis, narrative 1/8/2016 analysis etc.) 8 4

5 Postpositivist orientation Critical orientation Constructivist orientation Interpretive orientation Cultural orientation 9 Post-postivist/realist research The broad research question and interest: What is really going on in the real world? What are plausible explanations for emerging patterns? (Patton 2002, 91) Goal: find patterns, explain the phenomena, falsify theories predict? Most qualitative theses in marketing have traditionally adopted a post-positivist stance however, it is mostly done unconsciously! Make it a conscious choice, and explicate why you chose it - and make sure your research question is appropriate for that approach! 10 5

6 Critical/ideological research (often) Has a normative stance, and emancipatory aims to raise awareness, foster self-understanding, create opportunities to engage in social action, and seek social justice (Schram 2003) The broad research question and interest How is social order (inequally) constructed within society, and how can we set to correct the inequalities? 11 Interpretive research Belongs to the constructivist paradigm emphasis on individual meanings and realities Epistemological assumption: we can gain knowledge by seeing through the eyes of people being studied (Bryman 2004) The broad research question and interest: How the individual interacts with external world, and constructs meanings and social reality? Individual experiences, how the self is constructed through being in the world 12 6

7 Cultural research Belongs to the constructivist paradigm emphasis on cultural (shared) meanings and realities often stresses language as the site where reality is constructed Epistemological assumption: we can gain (contextual) knowledge by analyzing cultural texts The broad research question and interest: How are social reality and social order produced, maintained, contested and transformed (in markets, in organizations)? Studies textual data things are seen as texts 13 Any other paradigms? There are plenty! Hermeneutics Postmoderninsm and poststructuralism Critical theory Interpretivism 1/8/

8 Generally speaking Cultural and interpretive perspectives seek describe and understand Critical perspective seeks to describe, empower and emancipate Realist perspective seeks to describe, explain, and (sometimes) predict closest to quantitative research 15 Why do you need to know this..? Understanding philosophical issues provides you with a better understanding about why researchers are interested in different topics and research questions why qualitative research can be performed in many ways; why qualitative data can be collected and analyzed in many differing ways why different methods are being used in analyzing the data + this is part of your general education as a Master of Science! 16 8

9 Assignment 1 Read the following three research articles: 1. Hodis, Monica Alexandra, Rajendran Sriramachandramurthy, and Hemant C. Sashittal. "Interact with me on my terms: a four segment Facebook engagement framework for marketers." Journal of Marketing Management 31:11-12, Mikkonen, Ilona, and Domen Bajde. "Happy Festivus! Parody as playful consumer resistance." Consumption Markets & Culture 16.4 (2013): Thompson, C. J., & Haytko, D. L.. (1997). Speaking of Fashion: Consumers' Uses of Fashion Discourses and the Appropriation of Countervailing Cultural Meanings. Journal of Consumer Research, 24(1), Assignment 1 Write a report in which you identify the research philosophy/paradigm of each article (realism; constructivism (cultural); constructive (interpretive). Justify your answer with excerpts from the articles; show which types of formulations and choices of terminology support your argument. The report should be 3 to 5 pages report (12 bullet point font, 1,5 line spacing) 18 9

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK, EPISTEMOLOGY, PARADIGM, &THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK, EPISTEMOLOGY, PARADIGM, &THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK: Is the system of concepts, assumptions, expectations, beliefs, and theories that supports and informs your research.