Applying Positivist and Interpretivist Philosophies to Social Research Practices

Positivism and interpretivism are among the most common philosophical research paradigms for guiding research methods and analysis. Justifying a decision to accept or reject a particular philosophy should be part of the basis of any research. It is therefore important to understand these paradigms and their principles to determine what is appropriate for research in the field of social sciences and how to build its design and analysis.

Applying Positivist and Interpretivist Philosophies to Social Research Practices discusses how philosophy interprets social science research through positivism and interpretivism. It further explains the context of these two research philosophies, the general principles, and the values of each in the field of social science research. Covering topics such as knowledge management research, pragmatism, and systems thinking, this premier reference source is an excellent resource for librarians, students and educators of higher education, researchers, social scientists, and academicians. See more