Positivist and Non-Positivist Paradigm in Social Science Research: Conflicting Paradigms or Perfect Partners?

Abstract

The idea of a paradigm or worldview as an overarching framework which organizes our entire approach to beingin the globe has become usual since Kuhn published The Structure of Scientific Revolutions in 1962. This papertherefore critically examined the positivist and a non positivist research paradigm in social science research. Itwas revealed that the two paradigms are opposing each other. The findings show that positivist and a nonpositivist research are conflicting paradigms and a researcher needs to cortically evaluate each and everyparadigm before employing it in his research activities. Conclusion was eventually drawn based on the literaturefindings.