S.TRUEMAN PhD THESIS 2016

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Methodology Focus of research

Concentrates on description and explanation

Concentrates on understanding and interpretation Researchers want to experience what they are studying Allow feeling and reason to govern actions Partially create what is studied and the meaning of phenomena Use of pre-understanding is important Distinction between facts and value judgments less clear Accept influence from both science and personal experience Primarily non-quantitative

Role of the researcher

Detached, external observer

Clear distinction between reason and feeling

Aim to discover external reality rather than creating the object of study Strive to use rational, consistent, verbal, logical approach Seek to maintain clear distinction between facts and value judgments Distinction between science and personal experience

Formalised statistical and mathematical methods predominant

4.3 Theoretical Underpinnings

A paradigm is a ‘set of interrelated assumptions about the social world which provides a philosophical and conceptual framework for the organised study of that world’ (Filstead, 1979, p. 34). Chalmers (1982/1994) defined a paradigm as ‘made up of the general theoretical assumptions and laws, and techniques for their application that the members of a particular scientific community adopt’ (p. 90). Chalmers (1982/1994, p. 91) outlined five components that constitute paradigms: 1. Explicitly stated laws and theoretical assumptions; 2. Standard ways of applying the fundamental laws to a variety of situations;