Paradigms, Assumptions, & Methodologies

The lists below probably align to three paradigmatic scales:

  • Super-Paradigms
  • Paradigms
  • Sub-Paradigms

The notion of “paradigm” is fairly slippery. Many people have tried to present solidified definitions and examples of paradigms. However, the existence of a particular paradigm is situated in the context and how it manifests.

In the following table, the items in each column do not necessarily match across rows.

Assumptions & Orientations Paradigms Research Methodologies
(Possible Super-Paradigms) (Some Possible Paradigms or Sub-Paradigms)
• Positivism • Historical Studies • Experimental
• Holism • Causal Modeling • Quasi-Experimental
• Reductionism • Quantitative Evaluation • Correlational
• Mechanism (see worldviews) • Qualitative Evaluation • Survey & Questionnaire Designs
• Determinism • Large Scale Assessment • Grounded Theory Designs
• Contextualism (see worldviews) • Student Cognition • Ethnographic Designs
• Organicism (see worldviews) • Student Learning • Descriptive—Naturalistic Designs
• Formism (see worldviews) • Student Interaction • Narrative & Self-Study Designs
• Empiricism • Process—Product (Treatment—Effect) • Participant Observation
• Behaviorism • Student Discourse • Interview Designs
• Constructivism • Student Achievement
• Relativism • Teacher Cognition
• Teacher Reflection
• Process-Product
• Teacher Practices
• Communities of Practice
• Cultural & Ethnic Studies
• Feminist Studies
• Queer Studies
• Chaos & Complexity
• Studies of Systems Thinking
• Program Effectiveness
• Classroom Ecology
• Teacher Self-Study
• Action Research
• Content Analysis
• Document Analysis
• Curriculum Studies
• Post-Modern Curriculum Studies
• Developmental Studies
• Technology in Education
• Arts, Inquiry, & Education
• Brain-based Studies
• Biographical Analysis
• Multilingual Education
• Ethnic Studies
• Classroom Assessment
• Classroom Management Studies
• Peace Education
• Constructivism
• Social Constructivism
• Cooperative Learning
• Social Justice Studies
• Curriculum for Democracy
• Disability Studies
• Environmental Education
• Informal Education
• Holistic Education
• Indigenous Education
• International—Global Education Studies
• School Improvement
• Marxian Analysis
• Moral Development
• Studies of Motivation
• Critical Pedagogy
• Philosophical Studies
• Professional Development
• Religion and Education
• School Climate Studies
• Semiotics
• Social and Emotional Studies
• Spirituality Education
• Self-Regulated Learning
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