Paradigms vs. Theories: How They Shape Research
Based on DeCarlo (2018), Scientific Inquiry in Social Work (CC BY‑NC‑SA). Paradigms are the lenses we use to see the world — assumptions about what is real and how we can know it. Theories then explain specific “how/why” relationships within those lenses.
Four paradigms (plain language)
- Positivism: objective truths exist; measure carefully; deductive logic.
- Social constructionism: truth varies by people and context; meanings are made in interaction.
- Critical: focuses on power, inequality, and change; research should aid liberation.
- Postmodern: skeptical of universal truths; knowledge is historically/culturally bound.
What’s a theory?
A theory is a set of linked ideas that explains some part of social life (e.g., systems, conflict, symbolic interaction, social exchange). Paradigms set the worldview; theories do the explaining.
How beliefs form (objective, human)
- Early socialization: family, caregivers, and community norms shape default assumptions.
- Culture & language: school, media, and peers reinforce shared meanings and habits.
- Experience: new people and evidence can update or confirm our lens over time.
- Uniqueness & commonality: we share much as humans, yet each person’s path is slightly different.
Example: studying substance use
- Positivist: measure prevalence and causes with surveys/experiments.
- Constructionist: interview people about meanings and identities.
- Critical: analyze laws/stigma; aim to change oppressive structures.
- Postmodern: narrative of one person’s changing self‑understanding.
Citation & license
DeCarlo, M. (2018). Scientific Inquiry in Social Work. Licensed CC BY‑NC‑SA 4.0. Section: “Paradigms, theories, and how they shape a researcher’s approach.”
Note on tone: These summaries aim to be factual and respectful. Differences in lenses need not be insults — we share a common humanity even when we disagree.