Reflection # 1
As an emerging researcher, the paradigm that I feel most strongly affiliated with is the interpretive paradigm. My studies at Capilano University are comprised of many psychology, education and ABA courses that focus on applying learning theories to improve socially significant behavior and bring about positive change.
While learning about techniques of behavioural intervention for children, I realized that social reality is not singular or objective, but is rather shaped by human experiences and social contexts (ontology). Upon reflection, I came to the realization that the interpretive paradigm is the one that I use most frequently, and is therefore best studied within its social context by reconciling the subjective interpretations of its various participants (epistemology).
As an emerging interpretive researcher, I am tempted to assume that the research subjects’ reality is rooted in their social setting, and therefore reality should be interpreted though a sense-making process rather than a hypothesis testing process.
For the last two semesters, I’ve conducted interviews with students and teachers in Spanish and Canadian elementary schools, for my LBST tutorials focusing on the role of sports and languages in children development. Through my research, I realised that the interpretive paradigm can be used in the majority of research cases alongside the scientific paradigm especially in specific cases where psychology, science and quantitative information is necessary to formulate a conclusion.
Outside of my academic work, I am a swimming coach for a competitive team, and I am aware that in sports research there are cases where the exercise of interpretive paradigm is not sufficient and application of the scientific and the critical paradigms work out very well and provide an ontological position of positivism.
Although I recognize the benefits of the scientific and critical paradigms for some instances, I am still a supporter of the interpretive paradigm, based on the argument that each individual is different and rooted to his own social context.