Prof. ir. Panchito M.

Labay

What is a positivist, a
post-modernist and a
feminist point of view?
What
is
qualitative,
quantitative
&
mixed
methods of research?

help the researcher to refine

and specify his or her
research point of view or
philosophical underpinnings
enable the researcher to
evaluate different methodologies and methods to avoid
inappropriate
use
and
unnecessary
work
by
identifying the limitations of
particular approaches at an
early stage
help the researcher to be
creative and innovative in
either selection or adaptation
of
methods
that
were
previously outside his or her
experience.

Its me when I was assigned to do a research work

in John Hopkins University with my Ugandan
classmate.

There are three major philosophical schools that affect the

conduct of doing research:
POSITIVIST
(cornerstone
of
traditional science)stresses that
science
as
knowledge
is
ascertained
by
empirical
observations & experimentations. It
has an objectivist view that facts or
realities are not the results of
human cognition or thinking or
created in ones mind. They are
external to the observer and are
imposed
on
the
observers
consciousness from without.
It
prefers
measurement
and
replicability and making generalisations
rather
than
specific
observations.

It follows the scientific method:

Problem

Theory

Proving

Data gathering

Hypothesis

Experimentation

Challenges to the positivist / scientific /

objectivist views:
Superman is a creative social construct,
which presumed can be made in the
laboratories through the science of cloning
or genetics engineering!

1.

Truth or reality is a social construct

(subjectivism), created by human beings
& the objects of thought are merely
words (nominalism) produced by the
language we speak (a narrative,
discourse, etc.).

2. Realities are complex, which cannot be

reduced
to
measurable
simple
variables and therefore inappropriate to
come up with general governing theory.
Logocentrism is not truethere is no
such absolute truth.
3.

Experiments conducted in laboratories

are becoming redundant, because one
cannot really capture the essence of the
natural world. Though positivist is
guided by rationality, but rationality
itself is a product of social fabrications.

4.

Positivism is a hegemonic idea that

suppresses other forms of knowledges.

scientific fraud is extremely

widespread, even in most
industrialised countries.

biased and subjective nature of

scientists as human beings

material need for glory and honour,

gaining more grants and pressure to
publish outputs

doing the experimentation over and

over again to get the desired results

the nature of some researchers that

there is no prestige in re-doing other
researchers experiments. Therefore
the risk of doing fraudulent work is
very little.

History reveals that great

scientists like Ptolemy,
Galileo, Newton, Dalton
and Mendell all tampered
some of their research
data.
Source: Sutherland, 1989

Post-positivist
believes
that
pure
empiricism, e.g., deriving knowledge
only
through
observation
and
measurement, is not enough. Thus, postpositivism is built on the concept of
critical realism, that there is a real world
out there independent of our perception
of it.
It posits that data are not inherently
quantitative and cannot be bits and
pieces of almost anything.

Einstein is not only a positivist but also

a post-positivist & post-modernist

The metaphysical as being beyond the

scope of science, it was increasingly
accepted
by
post-positivists
that
although a real world driven by natural
causes exists, it is impossible for
humans to truly perceive it with their
imperfect sensory and mental capacity.

Antipo is a cultural practice during Lenten

Season, which is a good subject for research
following the post-positivist mode of inquiry.

The post-positivist approaches

assume that reality is multiple,
subjective,
and
mentally
constructed by individuals. The
use of flexible and multiple
methods is desirable as a way of
studying a small sample in depth
over time that can establish
warranted
assertability
as
opposed to absolute truth. The
researcher interacts with those
being researched, and findings
are the outcome of this
interactive process with a focus
on

Letourneau and Allen (1999) state that post-positivist

approaches give way to both qualitative and
quantitative methods or triangulation methods. This is
described as critical multiplism (Guba and Lincoln
1998). Critical implies that, as in positivism, the need for
rigour, precision, logical reasoning and attention to
evidence is required, but unlike positivism, this is not
confined to what can be physically observed.
Multiplism refers to the fact that research can generally
be approached from several perspectives. Multiple
perspectives can be used to define research goals, to
choose research questions, methods and analyses, and
to interpret results (Cook 1985).

It follows the inductive method:

Problem

Theory

Introspection

Fieldwork /
Data gathering

Contextualising

Brokeback Mountain speaks about reality!

POST-MODERNISTquestions

the
belief in reason & rationality of the
positivist. It argues that reality is a
social construct in the form of words
language, stories, narratives, discourses,
etc.
It favours observation from the inside in
favour of vision, in which the researcher
and the observed are not clearly
distinguished. Thus, the researcher is the
prime instrument.
It prefers an introspective, subjective
interpretation.
It dissolves the boundaries between
disciplines, since realities can be drawn
from different angles (relativism &
methodological pluralism). Creativity will
grow if this will not be put inside the
black box.

Questions to the post-modernist

views:
1.

Rise of knowledge anarchy, a

disorder world of explaining a
social, natural, physical, etc.
phenomena. Rejects meta- and
grand narratives of the world and
reinforces our sensitivity to
differences.

2.

The rules of logic are nothing, but

all social construct that are
prescribed for ways of thinking.

3. It is a counter hegemonic concept

to positivism that demystifies the
rhetorical acceptance of modern
science.
The problem of traditional science in solving some of
our present problems gives rise to post-positivist and
post-modernist points of view.

SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONIST
follows the post-modernist
view, both in theory and practice,
but is more concerned on
explaining society in terms of its
overall structure.
It believes that we are living in a
semiotic
world,
wherein
symbols and communication
(linguistic & gestural) are created
and given with meanings &
identities
in all our daily
interactions
with
our
environments.

We live in a world of words, languages, signs and

structures which we give them identities and meanings.

It upholds the cause & effect

analysis to describe social reality
from within, like in interpreting
the views, feelings and actions of
those involved in a given
situation or lifestyle.

FEMINISTfollows traditional science, both in

theory and practice but
should be fair to women.
It is an emerging philosophical school guided by
feminist theory. It is really
not a method, but a
perspective that recognises diversity, open to
cross discipline, so as to
avoid the marginalisation
of women.

Women need not be confined only in

household chores, but must also a part
of social change

The scientific ethos of research prevails

as of today and still survives due to
the following ideals:
Universalism. Ideas and bodies of
knowledge must be evaluated on the
basis of merit that it established.
Communalism. Knowledge is not
knowledge if it is not shared, because
the search for knowledge is a human
act for public use.
Skepticism. Ones work must be
scrutinized and challenged. Scientific
authority must be appraised and
reappraised regularly.
Empiricism. Observations of the natural
and social worlds are based on facts
that can be apprehended by humans
senses.
Impartiality. Scientists must have a
sense of impartiality and openmindedness.

Thank you, because we have just

finished Chapter 3
TUTOR MARKED ACTIVITY
For the integration of all concepts, please do the following activities:
1.

In the internet (www.google.com) , search for two published

research papers that applied the concepts of a positivist, a postmodernist or a feminist.

2.

In no more than 500 words describe their peculiarities.

Date of submission: