The research philosophy refers to the way the researcher thinks about the increase of knowledge (Saunders et al., 2012). It is a scientific practice constructed on assumptions about the world and the nature of knowledge (Collis and Hussey, 2014). However, there is no certain rule of which philosophy should be selected when starting research, as it is
60 based on the nature of the research, the research aim and objectives, along with research questions and methods of data collection (Yin, 2009).
According to many authors, including Collis and Hussey, (2014), Easterby-Smith et al.,
(2004), and Hussey and Hussey, (2003), there are principally two contrasting extremes in research philosophies, known as interpretivism and positivism. On the other hand, Saunders et al. (2012) expand the classification of philosophies by recognizing another aspect of philosophy, realism, which falls within the two extremes. However, each of these philosophies is made from five philosophical assumptions namely: ontological, epistemological, axiological, methodological, and rhetorical assumptions. Table 3.1 by Collis and Hussey (2014) summarized the features of these assumptions under each philosophy.
Table 3.1: Philosophical assumptions of the main philosophies. Source: Collis and Hussey (2014).
Philosophical assumption Positivism Interpretivism
Ontological assumption: the nature of reality (what is knowledge)
Reality is objective and singular, separate from the research
Reality is subjective and multiple, as seen by the participants
Epistemological assumption: what constitutes valid knowledge (how we know it)
Researcher is independent of that being researched
Researcher interacts with that being researched
Axiological assumption: the role of values (what values go into it)
Research is value-free and unbiased
Research is value laden and biases are present
Methodological assumption: (the process of research)
(the process for studying it)
Process is deductive
Study of cause and effect with a static design.
Research is context free. Generalisations lead to prediction, explanation and understanding.
Results are accurate and reliable through validity and reliability
Process is inductive
Study of mutual simultaneous shaping of factors with an emerging design.
Research is context bound. Patterns or theories are developed for understanding. Findings are accurate and reliable over verification Rhetorical assumption:(the language
of research)
(How we write about it)
Researcher writes in a formal style and uses the passive voice, accepted quantitative words and set definitions
writes in an informal style and uses the personal voice, accepted qualitative terms and limited definitions
61 However, Collis and Hussey (2014) and Creswell (2007) clarify that the first three assumptions are correlated, whereas the other two assumptions are complementary. Therefore, the researcher will focus on defining the first three main assumptions, which will aid in defining the philosophy of this study.
The ontological assumption deals with the nature of reality. It is an overall set of assumptions around the definition of reality (Aouad, 2011):
● The Positivist approach (Quantitative approach) considers that reality is steady and can be seen and described from an objective perspective. It can only be gained from direct experience and observation, such as in the area of natural sciences (Collis and Hussey, 2014). Thus, it trusts that there is only one truth that exists independent of human perception, reality (truth) experienced by us all (Sutrisna, 2009). The positivist approach attempts to explore the phenomena under research and discovery of logical evidences or causes with little regard to the subjective state of individual.
● In contrast, the interpretivist approach (Qualitative approach) believe that reality can completely be understood only through the subjective interpretation of and intervention in reality. Using the research process, the researcher produces a theory or pattern of meanings (Creswell, 2007). The interpretivists consider that the world holds an unknowable reality, as in the field of social sciences, where each person has his/her own sense of reality (Collis and Hussey, 2014). Consequently, interpretivists believe that many realities exist (Collis and Hussey, 2014) and since reality is socially built (Ticehurst and Veal, 2000) it means that people build reality in different ways (Sutrisna, 2009).
The epistemological assumption is an overall set of assumptions about the way we gain knowledge about the world (Sexton, 2008). Epistemology is a theory of knowledge with specific reference to the limits and strength of knowledge, which seeks to answer the question: “how do I know what is true?” (Cope, 2002):
● A positivist approach is concerned with the theory of knowledge, particularly its approaches, ‘validation’, and the possible ways of gaining knowledge (Sutrisna, 2009). Furthermore, this includes an analysis of the link between the researcher and what is researched (Collis and Hussey, 20014). Epistemologically, the researcher and research
62 are independent bodies. A researcher can consequently study a phenomenon without any influence (Sale et al., 2002)
● Conversely, interpretivists focus on the sense, instead of the measurement of social reality, since they try to understanding the phenomena (reality) in depth to answer the questions: what, why, and how (Collis and Hussey, 2014). Also, the researcher is a part of what is being examined and is not independent of it (Sutrisna, 2009). Thus, interpretivists trust that reality can only be understood and that researcher has a tendency to depend on the views of the research contributors of the state being examined (Ibid). These assumptions are usually found in the fields of social sciences, which effect both researchers and those participating in the research (Collis and Hussey, 2014).
The axiological assumption is involved with the role of values, what values go into it:
● In positivist research, the researcher identifies that research is value-free and unbiased, as positivists think through that they are independent from what they are studying (Collis and Hussey, 2014).
● In contrast, interpretivists consider that the process of research is value laden, which means that the researcher is interacting with what is being investigated (Collis and Hussey, 2014). In other words, they are influenced by personal beliefs.
Depending on the features of these philosophies and the nature of this research (where the researcher investigates developing a framework to enhance data management in building handover practices of public sector construction projects in the KSA), the qualitative attitude has been selected for the most part of this study, whereas a quantitative attitude was used to validate and confirm the collected data in addition to enhancing the research value. The approach adopted in this research is explained in the next section.