RESEARCH THEORIES

Philosophical point of view, life is basically to position, whether to follow or to deny. As long as we live in this existence, there will be many choices and alternatives from which we can take it or leave it and even someone chooses nothing, he or she still chooses. However, he or she positions his/herself in option of nothing. Everything must be chosen to open all the ways.

In connection with some research theories about reality, actually there are many research theories to take or to choose. In this respect I propose only three research theories because they will represent both quantitative and qualitative, namely;

1.       Positivist Research

Broadly speaking, positivists assume that reality is objectively given and can be described by measurable properties which are independent of the observer in his or her instruments. Positivist studies generally attempt to test theory, in attempt to increase the predictive understanding of phenomena.

2.      Interpretative Research

Interpretative Researchers start out with assumption that access to reality is only through social construction such as language, consciousness and shared meanings. The philosophical base of interpretative research is hermeneutic and phenomenology (Boland, 1985) interpretative studies generally attempt to understand phenomena through the meaning that people assign to them. The studies aim at producing an understanding of the context of the information system, and process whereby the information system influences and is influenced by the context (Walsh am 1993, p. 4-5). Interpretative does not predefine dependent and independent variables, but focuses on the full complexity of human sense making as the situation emerges (Kaplan and Maxwell, 1994)

3.      Critical Research

Critical Researchers assume that social reality is historically constituted and that it is produced and reproduced by people. Although people can consciously act to change their social and economic circumstances, critical researchers recognize that their ability to do so is constrained by various form of social, cultural and political domination. The main task of critical research is seen as being one of social critique, whereby the restrictive and alienating conditions of status quo are brought to light. Critical research focuses on the opposition, conflict and contradiction in contemporary, i.e. it should help to eliminate the causes of alienation and domination.

After having defined the theories above, I can now position myself, in the view of me the realities can be gained by all those said above, they depend on the contexts and the purposes. The researcher once can use the positivist research in his or her study in case the purpose needs to do it, and in the other occasion the researcher also might use Interpretative Research in case the condition and the need demand to do it, hence the researcher also can apply the Critical research when there are some interest following his or her realities.

I stated that all research theory can be applied depending on situation, context and purposes because nothing is perfect in this existence and each research theory has its own drawbacks. All the truth is relative, except the truth comes from God, and it’s absolutely real truth and not debatable forever. That is why I said that researchers can apply all alternative theories that tailor-made with them. So case study research can be positivists (Yin, 2002), interpretive (Elden and Chisholm, 1993) or critical (Carr and Kemmis, 1986).