Pragmatism as a Research Paradigm and Its Implications for Social Work Research

TLDR

Debates over how social work knowledge is generated and its epistemological foundations are common, with recent scholarship invoking pragmatism to argue for its value in creating knowledge for social justice–oriented professions. The essay critically reviews and synthesizes literature on pragmatism as a research paradigm. The authors analyze pragmatism’s philosophical foundations and methodological challenges, synthesize key scholarly contributions, and discuss its fit within social work research and its link to social justice. The article concludes that pragmatism can closely engage and empower marginalized communities while supplying robust evidence for macro‑level social justice discourse.

Abstract

Debates around the issues of knowledge of, and for, social work and other social justice–oriented professions are not uncommon. More prevalent are the discussions around the ways by which social work knowledge is obtained. In recent years, social work scholars have drawn on the epistemology of pragmatism to present a case for its value in the creation of knowledge for social work and other social justice–oriented professions. The primary focus of this essay is on providing a critical review and synthesis of the literature regarding pragmatism as a research paradigm. In this essay, we analyze the major philosophical underpinnings and methodological challenges associated with pragmatism, synthesize the works of scholars who have contributed to the understanding of pragmatism as a research paradigm, articulate our thoughts about how pragmatism fits within social work research, and illustrate how it is linked to the pursuit of social justice. This article brings together a variety of perspectives to argue that pragmatism has the potential to closely engage and empower marginalized and oppressed communities and provide hard evidence for the macro level discourse.