Understanding the Philosophical Perspectives of Qualitative Research
The Paradigms That Guide Qualitative Designs
In The Foundations of Research Design: Ontology, Epistemology, and Methodology, we explored how every research project rests on three key philosophical building blocks — your beliefs about what reality is (ontology), how knowledge is created (epistemology), and how you can study it (methodology).
This post takes that conversation a step further.
If ontology, epistemology, and methodology form the roots of your research, then philosophical perspectives are the branches that grow from them — the broader worldviews that shape how researchers see, think, and make meaning.
Understanding these perspectives helps you locate your own study within the broader landscape of qualitative inquiry.
It’s not about fitting neatly into a single box, but about thinking intentionally:
What do I believe about knowledge, and how does that belief shape my research design decisions?
Let’s explore the main philosophical perspectives that underpin qualitative research — and what each one means in practice.
Positivism: Searching for Objective Truth
Positivism begins with the idea that reality exists independently of our perceptions — that it can be observed, measured, and verified through systematic inquiry.
In qualitative research, pure positivism is rare; however, some studies still reflect its logic, characterized by a desire for objectivity, replicability, and generalizability.
Key assumptions:
Ontology (reality): One objective reality exists.
Epistemology (knowledge): Knowledge is discovered through observation and measurement.
Researcher role: Detached observer aiming to minimize bias.
While positivism is more closely aligned with quantitative traditions, its influence is reflected in discussions of validity, reliability, and rigor in qualitative research.
Interpretivism: Understanding Meaning
Interpretivism shifts the focus from measuring reality to understanding how people construct meaning in their worlds. It assumes that reality is socially constructed — shaped by culture, language, and interaction.
Key assumptions:
Ontology: Multiple realities exist, grounded in lived experience.
Epistemology: Knowledge is co-created through dialogue.
Researcher role: Active interpreter, engaged in meaning-making.
Most qualitative approaches, from Phenomenology to Ethnography, have interpretivist roots. The goal isn’t to generalize but to explore how people make sense of their worlds.
Critical Theory: Questioning Power and Inequality
Critical perspectives build on interpretivism but add a vital question: whose meanings count, and why?
These approaches — including Feminist, Postcolonial, and Marxist traditions — see research as inherently political. The aim is not just to understand the world, but to change it.
Key assumptions:
Ontology: Reality is shaped by social, historical, and political forces.
Epistemology: Knowledge is situated and influenced by power relations.
Researcher role: Transformative agent; research as a form of critique and action.
Critical qualitative research often involves participants as collaborators, utilizing inquiry as a tool for social justice.
Constructivism: Co-Creating Realities
Constructivism holds that knowledge isn’t discovered — it’s constructed. Each person (and researcher) makes sense of the world through lived experience.
Key assumptions:
Ontology: Realities are multiple and constructed.
Epistemology: Knowledge emerges through interaction and reflexivity.
Researcher role: Co-constructor, aware of positionality and influence.
This approach emphasizes reflexivity — recognizing how who you are (your identity) shapes what you know.
Postmodernism & Poststructuralism: Embracing Complexity
Postmodern and poststructuralist thinkers challenge the idea of stable truths or universal meanings. They ask: How are knowledge and meaning produced — and by whom?
Key assumptions:
Ontology: Reality is fragmented and mediated by discourse.
Epistemology: Knowledge is partial, contingent, and open to reinterpretation.
Researcher role: Deconstructor; one who questions categories and reveals hidden assumptions.
Rather than seeking clarity, postmodern inquiry values ambiguity and multiplicity — seeing them as central to understanding the human experience.
Pragmatism: Doing What Works
Pragmatism offers a middle ground. Instead of committing to one worldview, pragmatists focus on what helps answer the question at hand.
Key assumptions:
Ontology: Reality is dynamic and shaped by action.
Epistemology: Knowledge is practical and contextual.
Researcher role: Problem-solver guided by purpose, not dogma.
Pragmatism is particularly useful in applied and mixed-methods research, where flexibility and responsiveness are crucial.
The Why Beneath the How
You don’t need to memorize philosophical categories to do good research. But understanding them helps you make intentional choices.
It clarifies:
Why you see data the way you do.
How your questions reflect certain beliefs about reality.
What kind of knowledge your study can (and cannot) produce.
Philosophy grounds your methodology — it’s the why beneath the how.
Reflective Prompt
Take a moment to reflect on your own project:
What do you believe about the nature of the world you’re studying?
How do you think knowledge is created?
What role do you play in that process?
Your answers may not align perfectly with a single perspective — and that’s the point. Qualitative research values reflection as much as rigor, process as much as outcome.