Foundations of Research
What is ontology in research?
The study of what exists or the nature of reality.
Which paradigm says reality is objective and measurable?
Positivism
What is a paradigm?
A shared set of beliefs and assumptions that guide how research is done like the “lens” through which researchers see the world.
What is a hypothesis?
A testable statement or prediction.
Which paradigm would test if one teaching method produces higher test scores?
Positivism
What is epistemology in research?
The study of what counts as knowledge and how we know it.
Name one assumption of positivism.
Determinism (cause-effect), generality, or parsimony (simple explanations).
Which paradigm accepts that reality exists but we can only understand it imperfectly?
Post-positivism.
What is a theory?
A set of ideas explaining how or why something happens.
Which paradigm would interview students about how they feel about learning?
Interpretive / Naturalistic.
What is axiology?
The study of values and ethics in research.
Which method does positivism mainly rely on?
The scientific method (hypotheses, observation, testing).
What does interpretive research focus on?
Understanding meanings, experiences, and context.
What kind of reasoning builds theory from data?
Inductive reasoning
Which paradigm would analyze how textbooks portray gender roles?
Postmodern / Poststructural.
Which three beliefs shape all research choices?
Ontology, epistemology, and axiology.
What is the main strength of positivism?
It produces measurable, replicable results.
Which paradigm studies classrooms through interviews, observations, and case studies instead of tests?
Interpretive / Naturalistic paradigm.
What kind of reasoning tests a theory using data?
Deductive reasoning
Which paradigm admits results are only approximate, not absolute truths?
Post-positivism.
Research differs from everyday thinking because it is more ________.
Systematic, controlled, and evidence-based.
Name one criticism of positivism.
Too rigid, ignores context and human subjectivity.
Which paradigm studies how systems and relationships change in unpredictable ways?
Complexity theory.
What is a concept in research?
An abstract idea or category used to understand and explain phenomena.
Which paradigm would study how a new digital tool unexpectedly changes the classroom?
Complexity theory.