RSE4801 Assignment 4 Resources
Questions 1, 2 & 3
6.3 Criteria and Paradigms
Criteria for sound research are relative to the research paradigm. The implication is that the criteria
applicable to positivist resear
...
RSE4801 Assignment 4 Resources
Questions 1, 2 & 3
6.3 Criteria and Paradigms
Criteria for sound research are relative to the research paradigm. The implication is that the criteria
applicable to positivist research do not apply in the same way to interpretative, critical and post-
qualitative research paradigms. Although the same concepts might be used, they assume a different
meaning.
You will have noticed that interpretative and critical paradigms are still in the process of developing
internal consistency in the sense of aligning the paradigm with methods and research criteria. Various
examples could be provided to show how interpretative and critical research use not only the same
concepts (such as validity) developed within quantitative research, but also attach the same meanings
to them. It is therefore important to work consistently with a research paradigm by thinking through
how research criteria apply. Sound research requires coherence between paradigm, research type and
methods of data generation and data analysis.
In their overview of research paradigms Denzin and Lincoln (2018, p. 57) provide a summary of
research criteria within each of the paradigms. What is important is that a researcher must be able to
explain carefully how sound research is conducted within a particular paradigm and with the use of
particular methods.
The following criteria for sound research draw on the views of Denzin and Lincoln:
Research paradigm/theory Criteria
Positivist and Postpositivist
research Internal and external validity
Constructivist research Trustworthiness, credibility, transferability, and confirmability
Feminist research Lived experience, dialogue, accountability, caring, gender and
embodiment
Critical research Emancipation, empowerment
Cultural studies Cultural practices, praxis, subjectivities
Queer theory Reflexivity, deconstruction
Research paradigm or type Texts
Validity (both internal and external), reliability,
operational validity in quantitative approaches
and methods
Horne (2018), pp 30–34
Bhattacherjee (2012), pp 55–64
Qualitative research Treharne and Riggs (2015)
Lincoln and Guba’s criteria
Critical research Lather (1986)
Please note that the understanding of ‘postpositivism’ is
different from how it has been used in this module. Her
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