Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library, The George Washington University Health Sciences Research Commons Health, Human Function, and Rehabilitation Health, Human Function, and Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications Sciences 5-1-2020 The Positivism Paradigm of Research. Yoon Soo Park Lars Konge Anthony R. Artino George Washington University Follow this and additional works at: https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/smhs_hs_facpubs Part of the Medicine and Health Sciences Commons APA Citation Park, Y., Konge, L., & Artino, A. R. (2020). The Positivism Paradigm of Research.. Academic medicine : journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges, 95 (5). http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/ ACM.0000000000003093 This Journal Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Health, Human Function, and Rehabilitation Sciences at Health Sciences Research Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Health, Human Function, and Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of Health Sciences Research Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Invited Commentary: Philosophy of Science The Positivism Paradigm of Research Yoon Soo Park, PhD, Lars Konge, MD, PhD, and Anthony R. Artino Jr, PhD Abstract Research paradigms guide scientific and rigor). Positivism is aligned with findings from large sample sizes are discoveries through their assumptions the hypothetico-deductive model of favored—in this regard, generalizable and principles. Understanding paradigm- science that builds on verifying a priori inferences, replication of findings, and specific assumptions helps illuminate hypotheses and experimentation by controlled experimentation have been the quality of findings that support operationalizing variables and measures; principles guiding positivist science. 06/14/2021 on BhDMf5ePHKav1zEoum1tQfN4a+kJLhEZgbsIHo4XMi0hCywCX1AWnYQp/IlQrHD3i3D0OdRyi7TvSFl4Cf3VC4/OAVpDDa8K2+Ya6H515kE= by https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine from Downloaded scientific studies and identify gaps in results from hypothesis testing are used Criteria for evaluating the quality Downloaded generating sound evidence. This article to inform and advance science. Studies of positivist research are discussed. focuses on the research paradigm of aligned with positivism generally focus An example from health professions positivism, examining its definition, on identifying explanatory associations or education is provided to guide from https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine history, and assumptions (ontology, causal relationships through quantitative positivist thinking in study design and epistemology, axiology, methodology, approaches, where empirically based implementation. Editor’s Note: This article is part of a collection of historic formation, components, and help strengthen or refine theory; for Invited Commentaries exploring the Philosophy of assumptions. Understanding paradigm- example, a hypothesis that confirms the Science. by specific assumptions is important, as effectiveness of an instructional approach BhDMf5ePHKav1zEoum1tQfN4a+kJLhEZgbsIHo4XMi0hCywCX1AWnYQp/IlQrHD3i3D0OdRyi7TvSFl4Cf3VC4/OAVpDDa8K2+Ya6H515kE= they provide deeper understanding of to a new group of learners can help how science is operationalized and of inform and refine theory.8–10 Scientific research, the systematic components that promote legitimate quest for knowledge, can be considered problems, solutions, and criteria for through different research paradigms that evidence.1,5,6 We present examples of Positivism: Definition and History make assumptions about how the world positivist research and applications that Definition and components of operates.1 These research paradigms are facilitate understanding of this research 2 positivism the philosophies of science, which guide paradigm, including its use in health the way science is conducted by shaping professions education and in scientific Positivism relies on the hypothetico- the following core elements: ontology research more broadly. We conclude with deductive method to verify a priori (how reality is viewed), epistemology a case study of how a clinician–educator hypotheses that are often stated (how the nature of knowledge is working with the positivist paradigm quantitatively, where functional conceived), axiology (the role and values might approach a specific case. relationships can be derived between of the research process), methodology causal and explanatory factors (how the paradigm defines processes (independent variables) and outcomes associated with conducting science), The Hypothetico-Deductive Model (dependent variables).8 Positivist and rigor (the criteria used to justify the of Science quality of research in the paradigm).3,4 Positivism is aligned with the hypothetico- research, however, does not always rely deductive model of science. As such, on quantitative methods. For example, an In this article, we focus on the research identifying the structure and basis of experimental study examining the effects paradigm of positivism—its definition, positivism through the hypothetico- of an intervention through qualitative deductive lens is a useful place to start.7 analysis fits within the positivist 11 Please see the end of this article for information The hypothetico-deductive method is a paradigm. on 06/14/2021 about the authors. circular process that begins with theory Correspondence should be addressed to Yoon Soo from the literature to (1) build testable Box 1 lists definitions of key terms Park, Department of Medical Education, College of hypotheses, (2) design an experiment associated with positivism. Box 2 Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, 808 South through operationalizing variables (i.e., Wood St., 963 CMET (MC 591), Chicago, IL 60612- provides a list of useful materials for 7309; telephone: (312) 355-5406; email: yspark2 identifying variables to manipulate and further reading. @uic.edu; Twitter: @YoonSooPark2. measure through group assignments), and (3) conduct an empirical study Written work prepared by employees of the Federal A primary goal of positivist inquiry is based on experimentation. Ultimately, Government as part of their official duties is, under to generate explanatory associations the U.S. Copyright Act, a "work of the United States the findings from such a study are Government" for which copyright protection under used to help inform theory and or causal relationships that ultimately Title 17 of the United States Code is not available. As lead to prediction and control of the such, copyright does not extend to the contributions contribute to the literature, thereby 12,13 of employees of the Federal Government. completing the circular process (theory phenomena in question. In the purest → hypothesis → operationalizing view, positivism is rooted in the following Acad Med. 2020;95:690–694. First published online November 26, 2019 variables → experimentation → theory). principles as categorized by Mill in the doi: 10.1097/ACM.0000000000003093 Findings from the empirical study can classic text, A System of Logic:14 690 Academic Medicine, Vol. 95, No. 5 / May 2020 XXX Invited Commentary: Philosophy of Science individual thinking and the worldview Box 1 of objective knowledge. Reflecting this Key Terms and Definitions Related to Understanding the Research Paradigm of history, the development of positivism is Positivism characterized by a move away from social elites (e.g., royalty) defined by truth via Dependent variable: Measures of interest (outcomes) in the study; unlike independent variables, dependent variables can only be measured, not manipulated. decree, and toward scholars discovering objective, evidence-based truth through Dualism: Separation of researcher and participants in study design and data collection to minimize bias. well-described experimentation. Examples of scientists who contributed Effect size: Quantified metric reflecting the impact of an intervention, expressed in standardized units to allow comparison across studies. to positivist views include Copernicus and Galileo, both of whom challenged Functional relationship: Association between a study’s independent and dependent variables, and redefined laws of nature through often expressed quantitatively, through direct or indirect effects (e.g., increase in independent experimentation and the collection of variables also increases the dependent variable). Functional relationships can also be causal, where data to make explanations and causal the impact of independent variables causes the results of the outcome to change. inferences. To date, positivist thinking Hypothesis: A statement or idea derived from theory or literature that can be tested through still dominates modern research in experimentation. clinical and basic sciences, as evidenced by international standards for science Hypothetico-deductive model: Scientific model based on forming a testable hypothesis and in leading journals and professional developing an empirical study to confirm or reject the hypothesis. organizations.7 As such, positivist Independent variable: Factors that influence outcomes of the study; independent variables can be thinking influences the advances in manipulated (e.g., assigning study participants to treatment or control groups) or measured. science and the approach that clinicians take to scholarly understanding.8 Internal validity: Evidence and inference supporting the “causal” relationship between the independent and dependent variables. Philosophical Foundations of the