IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/jfr/ijhe11/v6y2017i5p26.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Understanding and Applying Research Paradigms in Educational Contexts

Author

Listed:
  • Charles Kivunja
  • Ahmed Bawa Kuyini

Abstract

The concept of research paradigm is one that many higher degree research students, and even early career researchers, find elusive to articulate, and challenging to apply in their research proposals. Adopting an ethnographic and hermeneutic methodology, the present paper draws upon our experiences as lecturers in Research Methods over many years, and upon pertinent literature to explain the meaning of research paradigm. The paper elucidates the key aspects of research paradigms that researchers should understand well to be able to address this concept adequately in their research proposals. It offers suggestions on how researchers can locate their research into a paradigm and the justification needed for paradigm choice. With the explicit purpose of helping higher degree research (HDR) students design effective research proposals, the paper also discusses the different research methodologies best suited to conduct research in each of the paradigms discussed.Â

Suggested Citation

  • Charles Kivunja & Ahmed Bawa Kuyini, 2017. "Understanding and Applying Research Paradigms in Educational Contexts," International Journal of Higher Education, Sciedu Press, vol. 6(5), pages 1-26, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:jfr:ijhe11:v:6:y:2017:i:5:p:26
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.sciedupress.com/journal/index.php/ijhe/article/download/12169/7683
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.sciedupress.com/journal/index.php/ijhe/article/view/12169
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. James Scotland, 2012. "Exploring the Philosophical Underpinnings of Research: Relating Ontology and Epistemology to the Methodology and Methods of the Scientific, Interpretive, and Critical Research Paradigms," English Language Teaching, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 5(9), pages 1-9, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Jeniffer Maiwa & Esther Kiaritha, 2023. "Effects of Peer Counselling on Learners Mental Wellness: From Theory to Practice towards Enhancement of the Self," International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation, International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI), vol. 10(1), pages 172-180, January.
    2. Metaferia, Mekonnen Tesfaye & Bennett, Rohan Mark & Alemie, Berhanu Kefale & Koeva, Mila, 2023. "The peri-urban cadastre of Addis Ababa: Status, challenges, and fit-for-purpose prospects," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    3. Dr Sidney Kawimbe & Ms Buumba Banda, 2023. "Qualitative Analysis of Early Pension Withdrawal in Defined Benefit Schemes: A Case National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA)," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 7(12), pages 1839-1860, December.
    4. Benny Chitsa PhD, 2020. "A Critical Analysis of how Teachers Accommodate Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in Zimbabwean Mainstream Primary Schools: An ethnographic study of Reigate District in Bulawayo Metropolitan pro," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 4(12), pages 111-121, December.
    5. Dorothy Chibvembe & Harrison Daka & Mukuka Lydia Mulenga -Hagane, 2023. "Experiences of Women in Managerial Positions in the Education System. A Case Study of Selected Secondary Schools in Lusaka District, Zambia," International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation, International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI), vol. 10(11), pages 177-187, November.
    6. Simon Bhekumuzi Khoza, 2020. "Academics’ “Why†of Knowledge-Building for the Fourth Industrial Revolution and COVID-19 Era," International Journal of Higher Education, Sciedu Press, vol. 9(6), pages 247-247, December.
    7. María M. San Cristóbal G., 2022. "Culturally Responsive Research Design as Complement to Hegemonic Paradigms in the Comparative, International, Development Educational Context," International Journal of Higher Education, Sciedu Press, vol. 11(4), pages 220-220, August.
    8. John J. Oliver, 2023. "Scenario planning: Reflecting on cases of actionable knowledge," Futures & Foresight Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 5(3-4), September.
    9. Richard A. April & Cookie M. Govender, 2023. "A Mixed Methods Exploration of Measurement, Impact and Strategy for Affirmative Action and Socio-economic Justice in the South African Financial Sector," Management & Economics Research Journal, Faculty of Economics, Commercial and Management Sciences, Ziane Achour University of Djelfa, vol. 5(1), pages 83-105, March.
    10. Siwahla-Madiba, Nandipha Daphne & Costa, King, 2022. "Digital Transformation: Towards a model for competency-based governance of digital transformation for boards of directors in South Africa," AfricArxiv 9rhfu, Center for Open Science.
    11. Susan Kingoina Limisi & John Kipruto & Godfrey Ngeno, 2023. "Utility of Peer Mentorship Programmes in Addressing Disruptive Behaviours Among Secondary Schools Students in Informal Settlements in Nairobi County, Kenya," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 7(4), pages 722-737, April.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Blesia, Jhon Urasti & Dixon, Keith & Lord, Beverley Rae, 2023. "Indigenous experiences and perspectives on a mining corporation's community relations and development activities," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    2. repec:thr:techub:v:4:y:2022:i:8:p:1-10 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Amur Ali Mussallam Al Amri, 2022. "Delay Factors of Construction Projects in Oman," Technium, Technium Science, vol. 4(8), pages 1-10.
    4. Kingston, Kylie L. & Furneaux, Craig & de Zwaan, Laura & Alderman, Lyn, 2023. "Avoiding the accountability ‘sham-ritual’: An agonistic approach to beneficiaries’ participation in evaluation within nonprofit organisations," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • R00 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General - - - General
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:jfr:ijhe11:v:6:y:2017:i:5:p:26. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sciedu Press (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/cepflch.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.