Theories and research on Conceptual Change

Running Head: RESEARCH PARADIGM
RESEARCH PARADIGM
Name of the Student
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Author Note

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Executive Summary
The main purpose of this research is to discuss on the concept of how truth can be
established in business and management research or study. The study is supported by
reviewing the concepts and theories of research philosophy and research paradigm. It is found
that Truth is used by the qualitative researchers to maximize the accuracy of their research.
Qualitative method is a part of scientific method that is used to gather the numeric data.
Organisations are concerned on providing ethical & responsible workforce in their
workplace. Block chain technology is focused on doing accurate transactions of the business
that cannot be edited. It is designed in such a way that it can trace the problems and fix the
business issues. Hence, truth of blockchain technology is established in the business.

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Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Theories and Concepts...............................................................................................................3
Truth in Management Research.................................................................................................5
Case Study..................................................................................................................................7
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................7
References..................................................................................................................................9

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Introduction
The study has focused on various theories and concepts of research philosophy and
research paradigms that has been used while conducting a research. The paper has discussed
on various research approaches that is used to carry out a research. The main objective of this
paper is to discuss on the concept of how truth can be established in business and
management research or study.
Theories and Concepts
Research Philosophy
Research philosophy is a type of belief that every researcher makes about the way of
collecting data that is whether it should be collected or analysed. Here, the scientist acts as an
objective analyst and based on this, they make their personal values & accordingly works
independently. It deals with the development of knowledge. The researcher is involved in
collecting the primary and secondary data for the purpose of data analysis to look for its
research answers for the research question. This is the first process that is initiated during the
research methodology process (Dougherty, Slevc & Grand, 2019). Research philosophy can
be pragmatism, realism, interpretivism or positivism. The choice of the above research
philosophy depends on the practical implications of the study.
Research Paradigm
Scientific research paradigm helps to define the concept of research philosophy. It is a
research model that is used to conduct research that has been practiced for a long period of
time. It mostly emerges from positivist & interpretivism approach of research philosophy.
Most scientist use positivist paradigm. This is because, it involves empirical hypothesis
testing. It is related to facts of the study. Its findings is similar to another study which may be
conducted in different environmental situations (Doherty‐Bone et al., 2019). This means true
knowledge is on the basis of experiences & it can be gained by observations or experiment.
Interpretivist paradigm is another approach of qualitative research. This approach believes
that, reality of any phenomenon has multiple interpretation because it is complex and multi-
layered. This research technique will help to interpret the data and can help to interact with
the social environment (Abbott, 2018).
Hence, research paradigms is the way of that social phenomenon from which
particular explanation from these phenomenon can be attempted. Components of research
paradigm are:
 Epistemology- It is the theory of assumptions and knowledge that researcher have
about the nature. It makes assumptions on knowledge that can be communicated with
others.
 Ontology- It is the assumptions that deals with the nature of reality of a research. . It
makes assumptions of nature reality. It is done on the basis of research objects are
studied. Research objects are the individuals, management and an organisation
working on a live concept (Kivunja & Kuyini, 2017).
 Axiology- It is engaged with the role of the researcher’s value in every stage of
research process. It mainly refers to the role of value & ethics while conducting a
research. This means that how a researcher must deal with their own values to the

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research process. This research paradigm will be helpful in writing their own
personal value with related to the research topic (Da Veiga, 2016). This examines that
how the researcher should must deal with the research participants.
 Methodology- It is the combination of various techniques that is used by every
researchers to explore their research situations (Doherty‐Bone et al., 2019). This is
very much helpful to study a particular area of study.
Figure 1: (Research Paradigms and their Philosophies)
Research Approaches
The above research theory may or may not follow with the mentioned research
design. There are various procedures for conducting a research to collect the data and to
analyse the data for further interpretation. It directs the researcher related to which approach
would be applicable for the study (Fischer et al., 2017). The research procedures are known
as research designs and their methods are known as data collection methods. Then finally
research analysis & interpretation is done. Researchers makes decisions on following the type
of research designs. There are generally are of two type of decisions:
 Deduction- Deduction approach generally tests whether the theory is valid or not
under a given circumstances. It controls the testing hypothesis and explain the
relationships with the research variables. This is mainly tested for quantitative
measurement of the research. This theory has five stages of testing. They are:
(a) The first stage is to deduce a hypothesis of the topic.
(b) Then the hypothesis is explained operationally.
(c) Then the operational hypothesis is tested.
(d) At this stage the specific outcome is examined from the testing hypothesis.
(e) Then the theory is modified if required.
 Induction- Induction approach is an approach that examines the observations from the
result and on the basis of it makes theories and observations from the conclusion. This
approach uses alternative explanations for the result. It uses qualitative data for the

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measurement (Bezzina et al., 2017). This is used to make more informed decision on
research design. This theory uses several of data collection methods of the business.
Difference between Deduction and Induction approaches:
Deduction Induction
 It collects the quantitative data for
the measurement.
 It explains the casual relationships
between the variables.
 It is a highly structured approach
and mainly relies on testing
concept.
 The theory is developed to explain
why it is occurred (Minnameier,
2017).
 The theory is tested and it is either
accepted, revised or rejected.
 It collects the qualitative data for
the measurement.
 It explains the concept of research
context.
 It is concerned with new theory of
emerging the data
 The data is collected and then it is
examined through examinations.
 The theory is developed to explain
the social phenomenon of the
research.
Block chain technology
Block chain technology is a structural type of transactional records in the form of
blocks. The blocks are connected in a network form like a chain. This is normally known as
digital ledger. It is a type of spreadsheet that is used as a ledger in businesses.
Characteristics:
 It is a decentralisation system that is only valid through a trusted agency like central
bank.
 It is persistence in nature. This means that the transactions is quick and valid and
impossible to delete any data.
 It allows the users to interact with their real identity.
Truth in Management Research
The concept of truth is generally the use of ontology, epistemology and Axiology
questions in order to remove errors in the research and add accuracy to the study. Truth is
used by the qualitative researchers to maximize the accuracy of their research. Qualitative
method is a part of scientific method that is used to gather the numeric data. Accuracy of data
is very important because it helps the researchers to craft for research designs to mitigate with
any type if research biasness (Buckley, P. J., Doh & Benischke, 2017). Researchers use truth
as an instrument to conduct the research. This is used to enhance the flexibility of the
research design process (Kennedy, 2017). It identifies the type of issues & enhance the
participant-researcher relationship while conducting the research. Truth in qualitative
research provides a deep meaning to the participants on the research. The three research
paradigm; Ontology, Axiology and Epistemology are known as the Hammer of truth.
Ontology is the research philosophical study related to nature of becoming reality (Zamudio,
2019). Epistemology is known as the theory of knowledge which is related to tits methods
and scope. Axiology is the study of value and ethics in the research. Axiology has significant
role in the economical, moral and logical aspects of the research.

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These are known as hammer of truth because, the above theories of research paradigm
is helpful in adding the accuracy and eliminating the errors in the research.
 Ontology- Ontology aims to provide quality of the research to the research developers
and engineers (Moon et al., 2019). It provides clarity and consistency for the human
readers. It captures the semantic accuracy by providing descriptions of the
components like relationships and classes. It allows the knowledge based system to
execute with human reasoning systems. Usually, ontology system is evaluated
manually and automatically. Manually is done by human expert and automatically is
measured with the help of specific criteria like golden standard. Automatic approach
are more generic but it require proper criteria for evaluation (Wright & Nyberg,
2017). Various models like graph structures and semantic graphs can be used by
different ontologies for doing the similar experiments. Basically, ontologies are the
frameworks that are used to represent the knowledge that has been already observed
from the similar experiment. The relationships used to make interconnections of the
data makes the research more linked, coherent and possess a high quality information
for the researcher. In this way, it add accuracy to the research. Ontology is used in the
business in the following ways:
This can be understood by analysing the ontology of four research philosophies:
Research Philosophy Ontology: Researcher’s view on the basis
of nature of reality
1. Pragmatism This is used to observe the external view of
the business in order to get answers of their
research questions.
2. Positivism This is used to observe the objective of the
business and independency of social factors.
3. Realism Business use this to interpret the knowledge
with social condition.
4. Interpretivism Business use this to do qualitative and
quantitative analysis of the business
(Noddings, 2018).
In business and management research, ontology is used to do dissertation by adding
an objectivism or constructivism view in the research rationale part. Then implications of
ontological choice is discussed in the data collection method.
Block chain- The ontology philosophy of block chain technology has developed a
proper definition of what a knowledge is and for what purpose the technology is used in the
business (Hal.archives-ouvertes.fr.2020). It also includes the dimensions for the business.
Blockchain is complicated and understanding it in a normal sense is quiet difficult. Hence,
mathematical models and logical formulations will help to identify the technology.
 Epistemology- This is known as the theory of knowledge with related to the
research’s methods and scope. This theory is all about opinion and beliefs.

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Epistemologist research on these opinions. Businesses using this in its marketing
theory. Like epistemologists, the market researchers also look towards the creativity
in its market theory (Bezzina et al., 2017). Business also use this theory to develop the
ethical behaviour in the organisational workplace. Epistemology competes the views
of the different researchers and philosophers. It is related to open-mindness, moral
thinking and creativity to the research. In business, especially the middle managers
use these values to add a positive ethical behaviour in work place. The fundamental
value of this theory is determined by its truth & falsity (Bridges, 2016). A true belief
is given more valuable than untrue (Hughes & Sharrock, 2016). Business choose
epistemic decision that is appealed to accuracy dominance.
Block chain- Epistemology deals with knowledge. The epistemology of block
chain technology mainly helps in investigating the problems and collaborating the
human-machine in the business.
 Axiology- It is the philosophy study if value. It is the collective form of ethics that
gives meaning for the values. Truth is a value that every researcher believes is
evident. This means that, researcher should do value judgement to label the truth. This
can be done with a reliable reason (Horrigan-Kelly et al., 2016). Hence, axiology
deals with the ethics and it is the researcher’s value that affects the research design
and findings. This concept is used in the business by the project management to ethics
during the project research. Project research is beneficial from more philosophical
treatment by acknowledging values in the methods of their project management
process (Meredith, 2018). Organisations are concerned on providing ethical &
responsible workforce in their workplace. Sometimes the project managers look
towards the phenomenon of truth and good instead of finding out the intrinsic value of
the project. In this way, values are used in the project research (Johnson, Russo &
Schoonenboom, 2019). Hence, truth is used by the business and management
research.
Block chain- The block chain developers are engaged in improving the applications
that targets the human rights (Rosenberg, 2018). The applications are developed in such a
way that it protects the business form any type of corruption of fraud activity.
Block chain technology is focused on doing accurate transactions of the business that
cannot be edited. It is designed in such a way that it can trace the problems and fix the
business issues (Zheng et al., 2017). Hence, truth of blockchain technology is established in
the business (Prat-i-Pubill, 2018).
Case Study
The above case study has discussed on the future trends of block chain technology in
the business. The transactions recording has been done in a decentralised manner, Blockchain
technology helps the business in doing financial services and controlling the private data of
the business. Business use this technology for making a high reliability in the process to
attract their customers. But, the technology doesnot guarantee the protection of privacy data.
The transactions is increasing making the technology bulky. The businesses have to check the
individual data before storing it to the block chain technology (Zheng et al., 2017). And also

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it is mentioned that blocks of blockchain technology is small in size and hence it only has the
capacity to fill the smaller transactions of a business.
Most of the business are using different applications instead of using this technology
to do their financial transactions. Hence, most of the organisations donot use this method.
Hence, the problem of non-guarantee protection of private data of the technology has gone
against the axiology philosophy of blockchain technology. Human right is a serious global
problem that may not be compiled with this technology. This means that it is difficult to
identify the full impact of this technology in the business.
Conclusion
Therefore, it can be concluded that, truth can be established in the business research
while implementing different research approaches in the business. Truth is a type of research
goal that is appropriate for any business and management research. Truth is an accuracy of a
research that is guided while carrying out a research activity. Ontology, epistemology and
Axiology are the three hammers of truth. These concepts are used to remove any errors in the
research and add accuracy to the study. Truth is used by the qualitative researchers to
maximize the accuracy of their research. Qualitative method is a part of scientific method that
is used to gather the numeric data. Accuracy of data is very important because it helps the
researchers to craft for research designs to mitigate with any type if research biasness.
Organisations are concerned on providing ethical & responsible workforce in their
workplace. Block chain technology is focused on doing accurate transactions of the business
that cannot be edited. It is designed in such a way that it can trace the problems and fix the
business issues. Hence, truth of blockchain technology is established in the business. The
problem of non-guarantee protection of private data of the technology has gone against the
axiology philosophy of blockchain technology. Human right is a serious global problem that
may not be compiled with this technology. This means that it is difficult to identify the full
impact of this technology in the business.

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