The positivist framework operates from the assumption that society can and should be studied empirically and scientifically. Deductive logic is discussed in more detail in next section of this chapter. Positivism is guided by the principles of objectivity, knowability, and deductive logic. The first paradigm we’ll consider, called positivism, is the framework that likely comes to mind for many of you when you think of science. Let’s look at four of the most common social scientific paradigms that might guide you as you begin to think about conducting research. Recall that ontology is the study of what is real, and epistemology is the study of how we come to know what is real. In social science, there are several predominant paradigms, each with its own unique ontological and epistemological perspective. Paradigms are a way of framing what we know, what we can know, and how we can know it. In Chapter 1, we discussed the various ways that we know what we know. These beliefs and assumptions influence how we think about any aspect of the issue. A pro-choice paradigm may rest on a mother’s self-determination and a belief that the positive consequences of abortion outweigh the negative ones. Thus, a pro-life paradigm may rest in part on a belief in divine morality and fetal rights. They are merely philosophical assumptions or beliefs. There is no way to scientifically test when life begins, whose interests are more important, or the value of choice. Conversely, you may assume that life begins when the fetus is viable outside the womb and that a mother’s choice is more important than a fetus’s life. Your classmate might assume that life begins at conception and the fetus’ life should be at the center of moral analysis. Those paradigms are a set of assumptions. In any case, there is a paradigm that shapes your stance on the issue. Perhaps your assumptions come from your political perspective, which helps shape your view on a variety of social issues, or perhaps your assumptions are based on what you learned from your parents or in church. You are each operating under a set of assumptions about the way the world does-or at least should-work. Then again, the person who sits next to you in class may have a very different opinion and yet be equally confident about the truth of their perspective. Chances are, if you have an opinion about this topic, you are pretty certain about the veracity of your perspective. To others, abortion is murder and members of society should collectively have the right to decide when, if at all, abortion should be undertaken. To some, abortion is a medical procedure that should be undertaken at the discretion of each individual woman.

For example, let’s look at people’s views on abortion. It can be difficult to fully grasp the idea of paradigmatic assumptions because we are very ingrained in our own, personal everyday way of thinking. Paradigms in social scienceįor our purposes, we’ll define paradigm as a way of viewing the world (or “analytic lens” akin to a set of glasses) and a framework from which to understand the human experience (Kuhn, 1962). This text makes a clear distinction between the two ideas because thinking about each concept as analytically distinct provides a useful framework for understanding the connections between research methods and social scientific ways of thinking. The terms paradigm and theory are often used interchangeably in social science, although social scientists do not always agree whether these are identical or distinct concepts. Describe the role that theory plays in social work research.Identify and describe the four predominant paradigms found in the social sciences.Define paradigm, and describe the significance of paradigms.

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