ABSTRACT

This chapter emphasizes the philosophical foundation of research design. This chapter is especially useful for dissertators who must articulate their research worldview in Chapter 1. A worldview is a personally held view that creates a mental model of the world which helps a researcher make sense of experiences, and provides a foundation for inquiry. The foundations of positivism, post-positivism, constructivism, pragmatism, and advocacy/participatory are discussed, and the ways in which each worldview is applicable to research in education are discussed. Exploring the tenets of the worldviews discussed in this chapter is a critical first step for anyone conducting research because worldview and theory together shape the methodology and guide the discussion and recommendations that emerge from the research. Therefore, the aim of this chapter is to inform researchers about the philosophical roots of the different worldviews so that they can begin to align their worldview with the appropriate research design.