COMPARING SCIENTIFIC PARADIGMS: POSITIVISM, INTERPRETIVISM, CONSTRUCTIVISM

Abstract

This article systematically compares three foundational scientific paradigms: positivism, interpretivism, and constructivism. It delves into their distinct ontological, epistemological, and methodological underpinnings, highlighting how each framework shapes the understanding of reality, knowledge acquisition, and research design. Positivism emphasizes objective reality and empirical verification, while interpretivism focuses on subjective meaning and social construction. Constructivism, in turn, posits that knowledge is actively built by individuals through interaction with their environment. By elucidating their core tenets and divergences, this analysis provides researchers with a critical lens to evaluate the philosophical foundations of their studies and appreciate the diverse approaches to generating valid knowledge within the social sciences