Table of Contents
Every research revolves around some kind of philosophy. Philosophy is a basic set of beliefs that guide the actions of a researcher. Modern research is taking place around several philosophies. Those philosophies can be positivism, constructivism or pragmatism. The centre of today’s discussion is pragmatism research philosophy. This research philosophy is far more applicable than others in the case of modern research. The researchers are now more interested in finding the practical applications of things rather than theoretical. This is why pragmatism research philosophy holds great importance while doing mixed method researchs. In this article, you will find information about what this research philosophy is and why it is important. There will also be a brief discussion on the aims of the pragmatic research. Hence, let’s start our discussion with the following very basic question.
What Is A Pragmatism Research Philosophy?
The word pragmatism is derived from the Greek word “pragma”. Pragma means action in the Greek language. The action is the central concept of pragmatism research philosophy. The researcher takes action based on the outcomes of the research.
Modern research is more leaned towards the consequences of the research or the practicality. This research only accepts the concepts if they support action. It means that there is no such thing in this research that does not support action. Everything is practical and can be performed in the real world. As research philosophy, the basis of pragmatism is that researchers should use practical methods to investigate the problem at hand. The researchers who do pragmatism research often use a mixed-method approach. They employ both qualitative and quantitative methods to understand the problem better.
Also Read This: How to Do Research for Dissertation? Top Methodologies to Learn
What Is The Aim Of Pragmatism Philosophy?
After the above discussion, you must know what pragmatism is and why is it important? The points mentioned above highlight its importance pretty well. It is time to talk about the aims of this research philosophy. Obviously, this research serves a purpose. In this section, we will explore what its purpose and aim are. The following are some of the points that thoroughly explain the aim of pragmatism:
- Development of creative mind: It is the first aim of pragmatism research philosophy. Due to the consequences-oriented research, the researchers’ minds get creative. They explore the issue in multiple ways and offer creative solutions to it. The multiple perspectives and solutions develop a creative mind.
- Ability to experience things: This research aims at developing an ability to experience different things. It also helps in restructuring the experiences to get action-based results. The experiences drive actions, and the pragmatic research helps in determining the outcome of those actions.
- Cultivation of dynamic mind: It is the main aim of this research philosophy. It cultivates a mind that is resourceful and enterprising. It wants to create such a mind that is always ready to solve the upcoming issues of the future. Hence, this research fosters the competence of researchers to combat future problems.
What Is Pragmatism In A Philosophy Example?
The pragmatists tend to avoid any kind of formal logic system. They do not say yes or no based on the situation. In fact, they explore the things in between the yes or no. The pragmatism research philosophy is about partial truths that may or may not be true most of the time. Due to the development of dynamic minds, pragmatists use statistics and fuzzy logic to deal with partial truths. They think there are chances of something else lying between yes or no.
For example, a pragmatist driver will stop if there is a negligible chance of pedestrians walking on the road. The yes or no system of the logic fails here. The driver thinks of the consequences first and then takes the necessary action. If there is any chance of an accident, the driver will stop. It is what pragmatism tells him to do.
Also Read This: Role of Thesis Statement in Academic Writing
Why Is Pragmatism Important In Research?
The philosophy of pragmatism is very useful in research. It comprehensively addresses many social and environmental issues. It also allows the researchers to investigate the problems that require quick actions. Below are some points that further highlight the importance of this research philosophy;
Useful Knowledge
Pragmatism research philosophy works really well for the researchers to gain useful knowledge. The multiple experiences explaining the same phenomena are very important. Those experiences direct the researchers towards practical problem-solving. The knowledge of the findings is essential in research. Also, this research provides the knowledge and necessary information about the action too.
Linking Experience And Action
One of the greatest benefits that make pragmatism important is its linking ability. Humans experience different things in their lives. The pragmatism research creates a link between those experiences and drives action. Most of the time, social researchers do this research. They experience and observe the traditions or beliefs of a certain group. The research that is based on the experiences eventually turns into actions.
One important thing is that the link must be strong enough for documentation. Sometimes, the support staff observe and experience things. The support staff may not be able to interpret the data correctly. This link between experience and action is important, so the researchers can be careful in their interpretations.
Inquire As A Decision-Making Process
Pragmatism research philosophy is important because it leads to decision making. The individuals or the organisations make the decision based on the results of the pragmatic research. It is also obvious from the definition that the result of this research is action. Therefore, the researchers have to take action based on their research. The problem you are trying to solve is directly involved in the decision-making process.
Conclusion
Pragmatism research philosophy is a practical philosophy. It looks for the research methods that are practical and support action. Being practical, this research has influenced the research process a lot. This article argues that the researchers should view the philosophical concepts in light of their practical applications. Without practical application, the researcher must not use any philosophy. However, if you are facing any issues in understanding this philosophy, you can hire us by clicking here.
