Critically discuss the positivist, interpretivist, and the pragmatism research philosophies. Your discussion should focus on the assumptions (the kinds of discourses) around each paradigm, as well as the methodological approaches aligned with them.

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Critically Discussing Positivism Interpretivism and Pragmatism in Research Paradigms Research philosophies guide how we approach knowledge creation and understandingThree major philosophies positivisminterpretivismand pragmatism offer distinct assumptionsdiscoursesand methodologieseach with strengths and limitations worth critical discussion Positivism Assumptions Reality is objective independent of the observer and can be understood through scientific methods Knowledge is derived from empirical observation and measurement emphasizing quantifiable data and causeandeffect relationships Discourse Positivist research often employs formal language focusing on objectivity generalization and hypothesis testing The aim is to discover universal truths and generate replicable findings Methods Quantitative methods like surveys experiments and statistical analysis predominate Researchers strive for neutrality and control by minimizing researcher bias and external influences Strengths Rigorous and transparent positivism ... View the full answer