The selection of the research methods strongly depends on the worldview and theoretical assumptions that a scholar has. In this case, one should pay close attention to the four knowledge claims or philosophies such as postpositivism, constructivism, advocacy framework, and pragmatism (Cozby & Bates, 2012). They can be regarded as different approaches to the discovery of knowledge, its interpretation, and subsequent use. On the whole, it is possible to say that these theoretical models can affect the choice of dependent and independent variables (Zikmund, 2003). Additionally, these approaches to knowledge discovery can determine the communication strategies adopted by a scholar. This paper is aimed at discussing the degree to which these philosophies can be applicable to my study. These are the main issues that should be examined in more detail.
At first, one should focus on the framework called postpositivism because it is one of the most popular research philosophies. In particular, it lays stress on the need to examine the relations between the causes and outcomes of a certain action (Creswell, 2003, p. 6). This approach is beneficial in those cases when it is necessary to study the relationship between various variables (Ridenour & Newman, 2008, p. 25). It should be mentioned that the term variable can be defined as a certain characteristic of an object that can be assessed with the help of qualitative or quantitative means (Kothari, 2004, p. 33). In contrast, a concept is an abstraction that is based on a certain characteristic of an object (Hall, 2008, p. 60).
The distinctions between these notions will be important for the discussion of various methods. Overall, postpositivism is suitable when it is necessary to test a certain conjecture or a hypothesis (Andres, 2008, p. 55). Postpositivism can be applied to the topic of my study. For instance, one can test a hypothesis of whether the choice of a specific leadership style improves the experiences of migrant workers in Malaysia and their ability to integrate into a new society. As a rule, postpositivism implies that quantitative research methods should be used because, with their help, one can better measure the relations between dependent or independent variables. It should be borne in mind that a postpositivist inquiry usually starts with a theory or a set of assumptions about a certain phenomenon (Trochim, 2003). In turn, a researcher should also pay close attention to facts or events that correspond to objective reality. These notions play a vital role in postpositivist research. If I choose a postpositivist paradigm, I would carry out a survey of Malaysian immigrants and those people who work in local churches.
It is also possible to speak about such an approach as constructivism. This model is premised on the idea that people develop their subjective interpretations of their experiences (Creswell, 2003, p. 8). Moreover, it is sometimes difficult to make generalizations about the behavior of larger groups. This is the main challenge that a researcher should be aware of. Therefore, a scholar should examine the complexity of various views that participants can have. Researchers should encourage the subjects to express their opinion on various problems (Creswell, 2003). This is one of the main peculiarities that can be identified. This framework can be partly applicable to the topic of my study. For instance, it is possible to examine the experiences of people who work in religious organizations that are based in Malaysia. For example, these people can tell what kind of leadership strategy is most helpful to them. Similarly, immigrants can also speak about leadership and their adjustment to a different society. As a rule, the constructivist approach is associated with the use of qualitative research methods such as a semi-structured interview because this method does not limit the responses of the participants. This is one of the main issues that should be taken into account.
Furthermore, it is important to speak about the participant or advocacy research. The supporters of this approach believe that researchers should not simply examine some social phenomenon. They should also try to promote certain political agendas and empower people who take part in the study (Lo, 2012, p. 101). As a rule, participatory research is closely related to such problems as alienation of individuals or groups, their oppression, or lack of rights (Creswell, 2003, p. 8). To a great extent, this approach is applicable to my study because one of the main tasks is to find ways of improving the experiences of migrants in Malaysia.
Therefore, this research should first identify the key problems faced by immigrants living in this country and those social workers who try to support them. More importantly, it is critical to developing a set of recommendations that can help these people as well as non-governmental organizations. This is one of the main tasks that should be accomplished in the course of a participatory study. Overall, advocacy research can incorporate both qualitative and quantitative methods. For example, with the help of a qualitative technique, a scholar can examine the problems that are encountered by the participants. In particular, people, who work in Christian organizations, can explain which leadership model is most useful to them. In turn, quantitative methods can be adapted to determine whether a particular leadership model can effectively support the needs of immigrants. These are the main peculiarities of the participant research.
Finally, it is important to examine the principles of pragmatism. This research philosophy means that a scholar should not adhere to some rigid theories or methods. Instead, it is vital to focus on a particular problem or question that should be addressed (Baert, 2005). The pragmatist approach enables a scholar to use various techniques. This is one of the approaches that can be applicable to the research that I will carry out. For example, I can use the combination of both qualitative and quantitative methods in order to determine which leadership model is most suitable for reaching migrant workers in the Christian community of Malaysia. The main advantage of pragmatism is its flexibility. However, one should take into account that a pragmatist study should be based on scientifically rigorous methods that can yield valid results. This is one of the main arguments that can be advanced.
On the whole, these examples indicate that various research philosophies or worldviews can be applicable to a social study. Pragmatism, constructivism, postpositivism, and participatory research can throw light on various aspects of a certain problem or question. Each of them can be used to investigate the experiences of migrant workers in Malaysia and those Christian organizations that support them. In particular, these paradigms can be helpful for determining which leadership model can empower migrant workers. Apart from that, the choice of a specific research philosophy can determine the selection of research methods and the identification of the major variables.
Reference List
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