[SH – PR2 / Practical Research 2]
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[The Research Paradigms]
The Research Paradigms
Webster Dictionary defines paradigm as "an example or pattern: small, self-
contained, simplified examples that we use to illustrate procedures, processes, and
theoretical points." The most quoted definition of paradigm is Thomas Kuhn's
(1962, 1970) concept in The Nature of Science Revolution, i.e. paradigm as the
underlying assumptions and intellectual structure upon which research and
development in a field of inquiry is based. The other definitions in the research
literature include:
1. Patton (1990): A paradigm is a world view, a general perspective, a way of
breaking down the complexity of the real world.
2. Paradigm is an interpretative framework, which is guided by "a set of beliefs and
feelings about the world and how it should be understood and studied." (Guba,
1990). Denzin and Lincoln (2001) listed three categories of those beliefs:
Ontology: what kind of being is the human being. Ontology deals with the
question of what is real.
Epistemology: what is the relationship between the inquirer and the known:
"epistemology is the branch of philosophy that studies the nature of
knowledge and the process by which knowledge is acquired and validated"
(Gall, Borg, & Gall, 1996)
Methodology: how do we know the world, or gain knowledge of it?
When challenging the assumptions underlying positivism, Lincoln and Guba (2000)
also identified two more categories that will distinguish different paradigms, i.e.
beliefs in causality and oxiology. The assumptions of causality asserts the position of
the nature and possibility of causal relationship; oxiology deals with the issues
about value. Specific assumptions about research include the role of value in
research, how to avoid value from influencing research, and how best to use
research products (Baptiste, 2000).
Dill and Romiszowski (1997) stated the functions of paradigms as follows:
Define how the world works, how knowledge is extracted from this world,
and how one is to think, write, and talk about this knowledge
Define the types of questions to be asked and the methodologies to be used in
answering
Decide what is published and what is not published
Structure the world of the academic worker
Provide its meaning and its significance
Course Module
At the end of the topic the students should be able to:
1. Discuss the conceptual framework of the study; and
2. Discuss the theoretical framework of the study.
The Conceptual Framework of the Study
General Guidelines in Writing the Conceptual Framework of the Study
1. The framework is the researcher’s own conceptualization of the research
using a model.
2. The conceptual model is a figurative representation of the research
framework drawn in a separate whole page in the middle of discussion.
3. In the discussion, the researcher describes and explains the model, the
meaning of the figures, the contents and the process involved.
4. All the variables involved should be written in the conceptual model.
A conceptual framework represents the researcher’s synthesis of literature
on how to explain a phenomenon. It maps out the actions required in the
course of the study given his previous knowledge of other researchers’ point
of view and his observations on the subject of research.
In other words, the conceptual framework is the researcher’s understanding
of how the particular variables in his study connect with each other. Thus, it
identifies the variables required in the research investigation. It is the
researcher’s “map” in pursuing the investigation.
As McGaghie et al. (2001) put it: The conceptual framework “sets the stage”
for the presentation of the particular research question that drives the
investigation being reported based on the problem statement. The problem
statement of a thesis presents the context and the issues that caused the
researcher to conduct the study.
The conceptual framework lies within a much broader framework called
theoretical framework. The latter draws support from time-tested theories
that embody the findings of many researchers on why and how a particular
phenomenon occurs.
Step by Step Guide on How to Make the Conceptual Framework
Before you prepare your conceptual framework, you need to do the following
things:
1. Choose your topic. Decide on what will be your research topic. The
topic should be within your field of specialization.
2. Do a literature review. Review relevant and updated research on the
theme that you decide to work on after scrutiny of the issue at hand.
Preferably use peer-reviewed and well-known scientific journals as
these are reliable sources of information.
[SH – PR2 / Practical Research 2]
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[The Research Paradigms]
3. Isolate the important variables. Identify the specific variables
described in the literature and figure out how these are related. Some
abstracts contain the variables and the salient findings thus may serve
the purpose. If these are not available, find the research paper’s
summary. If the variables are not explicit in the summary, get back to
the methodology or the results and discussion section and quickly
identify the variables of the study and the significant findings.
Read the TSPU Technique on how to skim efficiently articles and get
to the important points without much fuss.
4. Generate the conceptual framework. Build your conceptual
framework using your mix of the variables from the scientific articles
you have read. Your problem statement serves as a reference in
constructing the conceptual framework. In effect, your study will
attempt to answer a question that other researchers have not
explained yet. Your research should address a knowledge gap.
The Theoretical Framework of the Study
General Guidelines in Writing the Theoretical Framework of the Study
1. The section presents a theory or theories in a maximum of three, which
served as framework of the research.
2. Discussion of the main idea of the theory is first given followed by the
discussion of its relation to the study. The researcher should be able to
anchor the research to the theory or establish its relationship.
A theoretical framework consists of concepts and, together with their
definitions and reference to relevant scholarly literature, existing theory that
is used for your particular study. The theoretical framework must
demonstrate an understanding of theories and concepts that are relevant to
the topic of your research paper and that relate to the broader areas of
knowledge being considered.
The theoretical framework is most often not something readily found within
the literature. You must review course readings and pertinent research
studies for theories and analytic models that are relevant to the research
problem you are investigating. The selection of a theory should depend on its
appropriateness, ease of application, and explanatory power.
The theoretical framework strengthens the study in the following ways:
1. An explicit statement of theoretical assumptions permits the reader to
evaluate them critically.
2. The theoretical framework connects the researcher to existing
knowledge. Guided by a relevant theory, you are given a basis for your
hypotheses and choice of research methods.
3. Articulating the theoretical assumptions of a research study forces you to
address questions of why and how. It permits you to intellectually
Course Module
transition from simply describing a phenomenon you have observed to
generalizing about various aspects of that phenomenon.
4. Having a theory helps you identify the limits to those generalizations. A
theoretical framework specifies which key variables influence a
phenomenon of interest and highlights the need to examine how those
key variables might differ and under what circumstances.
Glossary
Conceptual Framework – presents specific and well-defined concepts which
are called construct.
Paradigm - is a distinct set of concepts or thought patterns, including
theories, research methods, postulates, and standards for what constitutes
legitimate contributions to a field.
Theoretical Framework – shapes the justification of the research problems in
order to provide the legal basis for defining its parameters.
References
Baraceros, Esther L. (2017), Practical Research 2, Rex Book Store, Inc., First
Edition
Baraceros, Esther L. (2017), Practical Research 1, Rex Book Store, Inc., First
Edition
Sarno, Emerlita G. (2010), Tips and Techniques in Writing Research, Rex
Book Store, Inc.
