Paradigmatic Frameworks

Paradigm


paradigm |ˈparəˌdīm|

noun

  1. technical a typical example or pattern of something; a model: there is a new paradigm for public art in this country. See note at model.
    • a worldview underlying the theories and methodology of a particular scientific subject : the discovery of universal gravitation became the paradigm of successful science.

ORIGIN late 15th cent.: via late Latin from Greek paradeigma, from paradeiknunai ‘show side by side,’ from para- ‘beside’ + deiknunai ‘to show.’

(from Apple’s Dictionary, 2.0.2, 2005—2009)


This definition of “paradigm” is not particularly accurate or helpful. A better way to think of “paradigm” has to do with the following characteristic features. A paradigm involves:

  1. A worldview or set of reasonably compatible worldviews, including values and assumptions.
  2. A set of theoretical and conceptual frameworks that comprise a domain of interest and inquiry.
  3. The research methodologies that comprise the array of inquiry tools used within the paradigm and that are consistent with the worldview(s) and theoretical frameworks of the paradigm.
  4. The practices and discourses characteristic of the particular paradigm.

Rather than an underlying framework, paradigms are more of a contextual framework.


INDEX



COMMENTS:

Add a New Comment
Unless otherwise stated, the content of this page is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License