A Chart of Four Contemporary Research Paradigms: Metaphors for the Modes of Inquiry
By Sipe and Constable
Glossary Terms
Semiotic - involves the study not only of what we refer to as 'signs' in everyday speech, but of anything which 'stands for' something else. In a semiotic sense, signs take the forms of words, images, sounds, gestures and objects. By Richard Nordquist
http://grammar.about.com/od/rs/g/semioticsterm.htm
Dichotomous - Divided or dividing into two parts or classifications
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/dichotomous
Heuristic - involving or serving as an aid to learning, discovery, or problem-solving by experimental and especially trial-and-errormethods; or of or relating to exploratory problem-solving techniques that utilize self-educating techniques (as the evaluation of feedback) to improve performance
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heuristic
Paradigm - A set of assumptions, concepts, values, and practices that constitutes a way of viewing reality for the community that shares them, especially in an intellectual discipline
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/paradigm
Gestalt - a structure, configuration, or pattern of physical, biological, or psychological phenomena so integrated as to constitute a functional unit with properties not derivable by summation of its parts
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gestalt
Nihilistic - is the belief that all values are baseless and that nothing can be known or communicated. It is often associated with extreme pessimism and a radical skepticism that condemns existence.
http://www.iep.utm.edu/nihilism/
Solipsistic - a theory in philosophy that your own existence is the only thing that is real or that can be known
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/solipsism
Quotes
“…positivist believe that we do not make the world; the world is a given, and we find the meanings which are already inherent in reality.” (Sipe, Constable, 1996)
I chose this quote because it gives me a better understanding of how a positivist researcher may think. Essentially, it is telling me that they see the world as being what it is and their goal it to find the meaning behind things, not to change or affect them.
Comments
I found the chart from page 155 to be extremely helpful for developing my understanding of the different types of paradigms and the viewpoint of their practitioners. (I copied the chart into my original notes but am unable to replicate it on this website.)
References
Sipe, L. & Constable, S. (1996). A Chart of Four contemporary Research Paradigms: Metaphors for the Modes of Inquiry. Taboo, journal of culture and education, 1(Spring), 153-163.
Semiotic - involves the study not only of what we refer to as 'signs' in everyday speech, but of anything which 'stands for' something else. In a semiotic sense, signs take the forms of words, images, sounds, gestures and objects. By Richard Nordquist
http://grammar.about.com/od/rs/g/semioticsterm.htm
Dichotomous - Divided or dividing into two parts or classifications
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/dichotomous
Heuristic - involving or serving as an aid to learning, discovery, or problem-solving by experimental and especially trial-and-errormethods; or of or relating to exploratory problem-solving techniques that utilize self-educating techniques (as the evaluation of feedback) to improve performance
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heuristic
Paradigm - A set of assumptions, concepts, values, and practices that constitutes a way of viewing reality for the community that shares them, especially in an intellectual discipline
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/paradigm
Gestalt - a structure, configuration, or pattern of physical, biological, or psychological phenomena so integrated as to constitute a functional unit with properties not derivable by summation of its parts
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gestalt
Nihilistic - is the belief that all values are baseless and that nothing can be known or communicated. It is often associated with extreme pessimism and a radical skepticism that condemns existence.
http://www.iep.utm.edu/nihilism/
Solipsistic - a theory in philosophy that your own existence is the only thing that is real or that can be known
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/solipsism
Quotes
“…positivist believe that we do not make the world; the world is a given, and we find the meanings which are already inherent in reality.” (Sipe, Constable, 1996)
I chose this quote because it gives me a better understanding of how a positivist researcher may think. Essentially, it is telling me that they see the world as being what it is and their goal it to find the meaning behind things, not to change or affect them.
Comments
I found the chart from page 155 to be extremely helpful for developing my understanding of the different types of paradigms and the viewpoint of their practitioners. (I copied the chart into my original notes but am unable to replicate it on this website.)
References
Sipe, L. & Constable, S. (1996). A Chart of Four contemporary Research Paradigms: Metaphors for the Modes of Inquiry. Taboo, journal of culture and education, 1(Spring), 153-163.