research philosophy

Introduction

The research philosophy encompasses the foundational principles and methodologies that guide the inquiry and interpretation of knowledge across various disciplines. It plays a crucial role in shaping the approaches and frameworks used in research, particularly in fields like education, social sciences, and interdisciplinary studies.

Key Insights

Exploratory Nature of Philosophy:
- Philosophy systematically questions the questions we ask, the concepts we use, and the values we hold, making it a form of exploratory research crucial for long-term progress.
Philosophy in Educational Research:
- The curriculum for preparing researchers in education is dominated by logical empiricism, emphasizing technical methods over philosophical, moral, and political values.
- There is a need to expand research education to include a strong foundation in the history, philosophy, sociology, and ethics of inquiry.
Cross-Disciplinary Research (CDR):
- CDR can highlight fundamental differences among disciplinary research worldviews, motivating new philosophical problems and supplying new insights into old problems.
- The complex research contexts of CDR can point toward important avenues of epistemological research by highlighting potential limitations of key epistemological components.
Philosophy and Action Research:
- Action research is seen as a modern manifestation of practical philosophy, emphasizing the development of practice and historical self-consciousness .
- Practical philosophy in action research connects theory and practice, promoting social justice and reconceptualization as part of action research cycles.
Philosophy's Role in Social Science Research:
- Philosophy contributes to social science research by clarifying value principles and addressing methodological issues, though its role has limits.
- It is essential for clarifying the value principles that frame educational inquiries but cannot provide a comprehensive value framework for social science.
Combining Philosophical Inquiry and Empirical Research:
- Philosophical inquiry can illuminate processes like learning and social identification by clearing away assumptions and offering alternative conceptualizations.
- Empirical research enriched by philosophical insights can advance our understanding of the human world by combining tools from both traditions.
Philosophical Research Methods:
- There is a justification for the existence of philosophical research methods in education, though they are not universal and promote individual critical thinking and autonomy.

Conclusion

The integration of philosophy into research across various disciplines highlights its exploratory nature, its critical role in educational research, and its potential to enrich empirical studies. Cross-disciplinary research and action research benefit significantly from philosophical insights, which help clarify value principles and address methodological issues. While philosophical research methods are not rigidly defined, they promote critical thinking and autonomy, underscoring the importance of philosophy in advancing knowledge and understanding in diverse fields.

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Research philosophy

Summary

Introduction

Key Insights

Conclusion

Sources and full results

Evaluating Philosophy as Exploratory Research

Philosophy should be evaluated as exploratory research, which is crucial for long-term progress and requires a distinct evaluative regime from exploitative research.

Preparation of Educational Researchers in Philosophical Foundations of Inquiry

Expanding research education to include a strong and broad foundation in history, philosophy, sociology, and ethics of inquiry can improve the preparation of educational researchers and foster interdisciplinary collaboration.

Cross-Disciplinary Research as a Platform for Philosophical Research

Cross-disciplinary research (CDR) can stimulate new philosophical problems and provide new insights into old problems, highlighting fundamental differences among disciplinary worldviews.

Philosophy, methodology and action research

Action research, as a modern 20th-century manifestation of practical philosophy, can be improved by promoting historical self-consciousness and avoiding the concept of methodology.

Philosophy's Contribution to Social Science Research on Education.

Philosophy plays an essential role in social science research on education, but its contribution is limited to clarifying value principles and methodological issues, not providing a value framework for social science.

Clearing Away Assumptions Through Philosophy and Research

Philosophical inquiry and empirical research can combine to clear away unproductive assumptions and advance our understanding of human activity, such as learning and social identification.

Claims of philosophy, education and research

This paper supports the importance of philosophy in education research, refining and extending Pring's argument, while highlighting the need for practical relevance and avoiding self-conception in educational research.

Action research, stories and practical philosophy

'Practical philosophy' can be a valuable tool in action research, connecting theory and practice, and fostering social justice through the use of 'little stories'.

Remarks on Research Tactics and Philosophy of Science

Willard Day's Remarks columns show that scientific research tactics and the philosophy of science have a significant relationship, and that the relationship is not as distinct as previously thought.

Is There a Philosophical Research Method in Education

A philosophical research method exists in education, promoting individual critical thinking and autonomy, but it should not be rigidly defined and imposed.

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