Research Methods (PH'2)

Certainty of Generalizations

We may often doubt the judgements of others in every day life, and will quiz them or check for ourselves. However, we usually rely on our own judgements based on our own inquiries without much question.

But this is unsatisfactory when we are engaged in a scientific study (PsH2K) and wish to systematize and produce useful generalizations. We want others to accept and even rely upon these in their own studies or for practical purposes.

So while we easily doubt others, we must doubt ourselves because it is so hard to prevent intrusion of personal motives, beliefs, interests and preferences.

For inquiry purposes, any judgement-PH2L6 must be justified. For a particular finding, the justification may be more or less credible. When it comes to judgement about a generalization, the issue of certainty is even more pressing.

There are special entities within judgement-PH'2L6 concerned with the quality of justification and how best to use the other levels of inquiry. These are named research methods-PH'2. These methods are about ensuring systematic inquiries can withstand intelligent critical scrutiny.

As usual there are 7 research methods, with each of these being constructed on a core research principle and taught as a methodological paradigm—or inquiring system to use C.West Churchman's label. The methods have evolved historically and intuitively over centuries to enable every sort of inquiry in every sort of situation. Only now can we effectively review these and respect them all.

Any scientist or scholar devoted to inquiry finds themselves gravitating to one method primarily and finding suitable areas for its application. No method is suitable for every inquiry. So preference for a particular method often means gravitating to a particular academic discipline or to a particular strand of study within a discipline.
Examples :

Mathematics is largely identified with the Formal method-L'2. Philosophy is built on the Analytic method-L'6. Physical sciences primarily use the Empirical-L'1 and Explanatory-L'3 methods. Ecological science requires the Holistic method-L'5. Critical sociology primarily uses the Dialectic-L'4 method.

Research is not Knowledge

A research method is an 'optimizer': it is about what seems to a person to be the 'best' way to use the elements of inquiry so as to maximize certainty in the findings from a scientific study. The method embodies judgements with an intrinsic concern for "truth"—referred to variously as validity, correctness, reliability, veridicality, accuracy &c—which entails correspondence between representations and realities within a field of interest.

A single study, even with an intense focus on method quality, does not produce knowledge. Knowledge requires replications, multiple studies, and more. It emerges, evolves and accumulates from a myriad of studies over time. Taxonomic analysis to be posted (PH'2CK) reveals that knowledge is ultimately determined by employing aspects of all of the various research methods.

The Folly of Fashion

Features

The research methods show all the features now known to be characteristic of Principal Typologies.

• Each method is based on a core principle or process.
• Each method generates adherents highly committed to it and for whom it becomes a research mentality.
• Each method is developed by its leading adherents as a coherent and consistent paradigm.
• As a result, adherents find some of the other methods unsatisfactory or undesirable. This makes them liable to be highly critical, to the point of opposing their use and objecting to their funding.
  More: This unfortunate attitude, typical of Principal Typologies(cf. decision-making methods), is a property of value-systems.

---

• Identify the different core research principles.

Originally drafted: 23-Apr-2015. Last amended 21-Feb-2022.