Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Date
5-1-2020
Journal
Academic medicine : journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges
Volume
95
Issue
5
DOI
10.1097/ACM.0000000000003093
Keywords
Humans; Knowledge; Research Design
Abstract
Research paradigms guide scientific discoveries through their assumptions and principles. Understanding paradigm-specific assumptions helps illuminate the quality of findings that support scientific studies and identify gaps in generating sound evidence. This article focuses on the research paradigm of positivism, examining its definition, history, and assumptions (ontology, epistemology, axiology, methodology, and rigor). Positivism is aligned with the hypothetico-deductive model of science that builds on verifying a priori hypotheses and experimentation by operationalizing variables and measures; results from hypothesis testing are used to inform and advance science. Studies aligned with positivism generally focus on identifying explanatory associations or causal relationships through quantitative approaches, where empirically based findings from large sample sizes are favored-in this regard, generalizable inferences, replication of findings, and controlled experimentation have been principles guiding positivist science. Criteria for evaluating the quality of positivist research are discussed. An example from health professions education is provided to guide positivist thinking in study design and implementation.
APA Citation
Park, Y., Konge, L., & Artino, A. R. (2020). The Positivism Paradigm of Research.. Academic medicine : journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges, 95 (5). http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/ACM.0000000000003093
Peer Reviewed
1
Open Access
1
Comments
Written work prepared by employees of the Federal Government as part of their official duties is, under the U.S. Copyright Act, a "work of the United States Government" for which copyright protection under Title 17 of the United States Code is not available. As such, copyright does not extend to the contributions of employees of the Federal Government.