ABSTRACT
This chapter presents distinctions in research methodologies and identifies how the differences are reflected in the design of the research and in data collection. It deals with a brief comparison of the philosophical paradigms from which qualitative and quantitative methodologies and Action Research flow. The chapter outlines each methodology in order to describe the research design. The Positivist/Postpositivist paradigm assumes that laws govern human behavior in a way similar to how laws govern the physical world. The Constructivist paradigm assumes that human behavior is bound to the context in which it occurs, and cannot be reduced to generalized laws that apply to all situations as is the case for findings in the physical sciences. Use of multiple sources of data and/or methods of data collection is called triangulation. The dependability of data and findings is enhanced by use of strategies such as member checks and an audit trail.
