Philosophy and Paradigm in Health Studies: A context of Migration and Fertility
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3126/irjmmc.v6i5.89111Keywords:
health education, postgraduates, research method, research philosophyAbstract
Postgraduate research is an important course carried out to solve an existing problem through policy and decision-making process. However, it is significant that research philosophy and paradigm be clearly declared in postgraduate research. Yet, this has been marginalized in health studies among postgraduate students. The paper contributes to scientific literature by guiding postgraduate students, particularly in public health. It highlights the relevance of adopting or choosing the appropriate research methods. This means that as is just section of my thesis, it sounds relevant to contribute existing literature. Though in the main study, cross-sectional design was used and source of data provided with a comprehensive analysis, these are considered in the other articles but for this, it is much particular about methodology or philosophy which is basically is not captured in most postgraduate studies and that what this article focuses on. The paper attempts to guide novice researchers on the choice of appropriate research paradigm. It outlined the concepts of ontology (the nature of reality), epistemology (how knowledge is acquired), and axiology (the role of values in research). It further explains key paradigms including positivism (objective and measurable reality), interpretivism (understanding subjective meanings), critical theory (challenging power structures), postmodernism (embracing multiple realities), and pragmatism (using methods that best address the research problem). In the context of migration and fertility, it has been suggested that these paradigms remain relevant though they pursue varied objectives.
Downloads
References
1. Allemang, B., Sitter, K., & Dimitropoulos, G. (2022). Pragmatism as a paradigm for patient-oriented research. Health Expectations, 25(1), 38–47. https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.13384
2. Brierley, J. A. (2017). The role of a pragmatist paradigm when adopting mixed methods in behavioural accounting research. International Journal of Behavioural Accounting and Finance, 6(2), 140. https://doi.org/10.1504/ijbaf.2017.10007499
3. Brown, M. E. L., & Dueñas, A. N. (2020). A medical science educator ’ s guide to selecting a research paradigm: Building a basis for better research. Medical Science Educator, 30(1), 545–553. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40670-019-00898-9
4. Creswell, J. W. (2015). Mapping the developing landscape of mixed methods research. In SAGE Handbook of Mixed Methods in Social & Behavioral Research. SAGE Publications, 45–68. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781506335193
5. Ellaway, R. H. (2020). Postmodernism and medical education. Academic Medicine, 95(6), 856–859. https://doi.org/10.1097/ACM.0000000000003136
6. Gordon, M. (2016). Are we talking the same paradigm? Considering methodological choices in health education systematic review. Medical Teacher, 38(7), 746–750. https://doi.org/10.3109/0142159X.2016.1147536
7. Kivunja, C., & Kuyini, B. A. (2017). Understanding and applying research paradigms in educational contexts. International Journal of Higher Education, 6(5), 26–41. https://doi.org/10.5430/ijhe.v6n5p26
8. Muhaise, H., Ejiri, A., Muwanga, H., Zake, F., & Kareyo, M. (2020). The research philosophy dilemma for postgraduate student researchers. International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI), VII(IV), 202–204. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.15085.61929
9. Okesina, M. (2020). A critical review of the relationship between paradigm, methodology, design and method in research. IOSR Journal of Research & Method in Education, 10(3), 57–68. https://doi.org/10.9790/7388-1003015768
10. Osuji, J. C., & Karkhah, S. (2023). The central role of practice in nursing research : Beyond the modern versus postmodern discourse. Journal of Nursing Reports in Clinical Practice, 1(1), 1–3.
11. Park, Y. S., Konge, L., & Artino Jr, A. R. (2020). The positivism paradigm of research. Academic Medicine, 95(5), 690–694. https://doi.org/10.1097/ACM.0000000000003093
12. Pathak, K. P., & Thapaliya, S. (2022). Some philosophical paradigms and their implications in health research: A critical analysis. International Research Journal of MMC, 3(3), 9–17. https://doi.org/10.3126/irjmmc.v3i3.48627
13. Rahi, S. (2017). Research design and methods : A systematic review of research paradigms , sampling issues and instruments development. International Journal of Economics & Management Sciences, 6(2), 403. https://doi.org/10.4172/2162-6359.1000403
14. Rehman, A. A., & Alharthi, K. (2016). An introduction to research paradigms. International Journal of Educational Investigations, 3(8), 51–59. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325022648
15. Saunders, M., Lewis, P., & Thornhill, A. (2016). Understanding research philosophies and approaches to theory development. In Saunders, Mark N. K.; Lewis, Philip and Thornhill, Adrian eds. Research Methods for Business Students (pp. 122–161). Pearson Education.
16. Saunders, M., Lewis, P., & Thornhill, A. (2019). Understanding research philosophy and approaches to theory development. In Research Methods for Business Students (Eighth Edi, pp. 1–872). Pearson Education Limited.
17. Saunders, M., Lewis, P., & Thornhill, A. (2023). Understanding research philosophy and approaches to theory development. In Saunders, Mark N. K.; Lewis, Philip and Thornhill, Adrian eds (9th Edit., pp. 128–174). Pearson Education Limited.
18. Sefotho, M. M. (2015). A researcher’s dilemma : Philosophy in crafting dissertations and theses. Journal of Social Science, 42(2), 23–36.
19. Tombs, M., & Pugsley, L. (2020). How to: Understand research philosophies and paradigms in medical education. Center for Medical Education, Cardiff University.
20. Turyahikayo, E. (2021). Philosophical paradigms as the bases for knowledge management research and practice. Knowledge Management & E-Learning, 13(2), 209–224. https://doi.org/10.34105/j.kmel.2021.13.012
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 International Research Journal of MMC (IRJMMC)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
