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Academic English & Research vocabulary · Research Design

Paradigm

Meaning in academic english & research, with examples

/ˈpærədaɪm/nounCommon term

In academic english & research, paradigm means: A set of shared beliefs about reality, knowledge and methods that shapes how researchers in a field ask questions and do research.

In Turkish: paradigma, araştırma paradigması, anlayış

How it is used

Methodology chapters often name a paradigm such as positivism, interpretivism or pragmatism to justify the choice of methods. The phrase paradigm shift comes from Thomas Kuhn's 1962 book on scientific revolutions. Avoid using paradigm as a fancy word for model.

Example sentences

  1. This study is situated within the interpretive paradigm.

  2. The move from behaviorism to cognitivism is often described as a paradigm shift.

Common collocations

  • research paradigm
  • paradigm shift
  • interpretive paradigm
  • dominant paradigm
  • methodologyThe overall approach and reasoning behind how a study is done, including the choice of design, methods, data and analysis, and the reasons for those choices.
  • approachA particular way of thinking about or dealing with a problem, topic or research question.
  • theoretical frameworkThe theory or set of connected theories that a study uses to explain its problem, shape its questions and interpret its findings.
  • qualitativeDescribing research that studies experiences, meanings and behavior through words, images or observation rather than numbers, often with smaller groups of people.

More terms: Research Design

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