Positivism and Constructivism : Two opposite but Reconcilable Paradigms In

Cross-cultural research is marked by adopting one of two dominant epistemological paradigms: positivism or constructivism. By discussing strengths/weaknesses inherent in each paradigm, this paper argues that rather than contradictory and incommensurable; positivism and constructivism can be considered complementary epistemological orientations which correspond to two conceptual levels of culture. Therefore, it is proposed that rapprochement of two approaches is useful in acquiring a more profound understanding of cultural phenomena in the area of organizational research. Introduction Over the last decades organizational sciences have witnessed an increasing interest in crosscultural studies. In the same way, the need for more robust cultural research has motivated many scholars to scrutinize and develop methodological techniques (Bhagat and McQuaid, 1982; Sekaran, 1983; Nasif et al. 1991; Tayeb 1994, 2001; Cavusgil and Das, 1997). However, the epistemological issues underlying cross-cultural research have not received enough attention. It is recognized that epistemological orientations determine methodological approaches; therefore, discussing epistemology can provide us with better understanding of created knowledge, its sources and its limitations. Moreover, awareness of epistemological issues can be useful in analyzing research drawbacks. Difficulties encountered in cross-cultural research are various in nature and they may transcend methodological boundaries. While some of these problems are identified solely as methodological issues, some others may be considered as problems related to epistemological positions. By recognizing the importance of epistemology and its effects on research process, this paper aims to discuss two major epistemological paradigms and their strengths/weaknesses in investigating a complex concept such as culture. By analyzing their particularities, it is argued that rather than contradictory and incommensurable, positivism and constructivism can be considered as complementary orientations which correspond to two conceptual levels of culture. Therefore, rapprochement and combination of these orientations can be useful in acquiring a more profound understanding of cultural phenomena in the area of organizational science. Epistemological Positions