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S01:E02
This podcast examines the philosophical foundations of research methods. The hosts discuss ontology (beliefs about the nature of reality) and epistemology (how we gain knowledge), explaining how these fundamental positions shape research approaches. They explore key research paradigms including functionalism, interpretivism, radical structuralism, and radical humanism.
The conversation clarifies the difference between paradigms and theories, with theories being specific explanations for phenomena that include constructs, propositions, logic, and assumptions. The hosts break down different types of variables (independent, dependent, mediating, moderating, control) and discuss criteria for evaluating theories, including logical consistency, explanatory power, falsifiability, and parsimony.
The episode examines inductive approaches (building theory from observations) versus deductive approaches (testing existing theories), using real-world research examples to illustrate both methods. The hosts emphasize that these approaches often work together in an iterative cycle rather than being completely separate processes.
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