Abstract
Scholarly discourse concerning the distinction between qualitative and quantitative approach often takes on a binary character. This structuralism undermines the legitimacy of positivist qualitative research, a unique method frequently used in social science research. In the present essay, the author argues that positivist qualitative research should be recognized as a unique form of qualitative research. The essay focuses on three issues: (a) the paradigmatic roots of positivist qualitative research, (b) the components of positivist qualitative research as an empirical research approach, including a typology for mapping various manifestations of partially and fully positivist qualitative research, and (c) incorporating a paradigmatic disclaimer section in articles to improve the quality of qualitative research, positivist and non-positivist alike. Recognizing positivist qualitative research as a distinct and legitimate type can improve qualitative studies in social science.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 2063-2077 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| Journal | Quality and Quantity |
| Volume | 52 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1 Sep 2018 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2017, Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
Keywords
- Paradigm
- Paradigmatic disclaimer
- Positivism
- Positivist qualitative research
- Qualitative research