Finding out about the World around Us

In this chapter, we will look at what is meant by positivist research, and consider how a positivist approach to research leads to the use of experimental and quantitative methods. We will also be introducing you to the idea of research paradigms. This is important because carrying out research involves an understanding of the philosophy that underpins the research – or ‘paradigm’ – because this, in turn, determines the methodological approach taken. Positivism tends to underpin quantitative methodological approaches to research as we will see.