A Comparative Analysis of Pragmatism and Constructivism Paradigms

This report offers a comparative analysis of two key paradigms: Pragmatism and Constructivism. It delves into the core principles of each, exploring their distinct approaches to understanding social phenomena. Pragmatism, with its focus on practical consequences and empirical methods, is contrasted with Constructivism, which emphasizes the social construction of reality. The report highlights the methodologies employed by each paradigm, including the use of experimental and hermeneutical approaches, respectively. Furthermore, it examines the role of subjectivity and objectivity within each framework, illustrating how Pragmatism allows researchers to adopt both objective and subjective perspectives. The analysis draws upon key references to provide a comprehensive overview of these influential paradigms and their impact on social science research.

Running head: PARADIGM
PARADIGM
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Two Paradigms:
Paradigm is a broad concept that refers to the understanding of the theories and the practices
of the same, which provide the base to the researchers to think upon and develop a thought,
and research actions. Paradigms also provide the basis for the understanding of a social
reality and develop findings and analysis accordingly. There are essentially five types of
paradigms for the social researches, however in the following paper, the concept and key
ideas of Pragmatism and Constructivism will be discussed.
Description:
Pragmatism: Pragmatism refers to the practical consequences of an idea or an action. The
thought stems from the scientific or the positivist method and includes empiricism. It is an
abstract concept that includes the philosophist as well as the mathematician, as the
philosophical understanding of the abstractism, reason and practices (Lincoln, Lynham, and
Guba. 2011). It is also referred to as Post Positivism, as it includes no falsified hypothesized
data and aims to form its ground upon facts and laws of nature.
Constructivism: The term essentially refers to the revolutionary incidents of the history,
however from the perspective of social science, the term refers to the social realities, and
incidents. The constructivism is a thought that stands as opposed to the naturalism, and the
constructivist approach includes the social entities and the social facts and the subject matter.
The thought is based on three claims, first is that, the ideas that can be viewed as natural are
actually an effect of the social processes and practices. Second is, the knowlkedgee of
phenomenon is society produced, and third is that the investigation upon the social
contructuojn of reality must be made the prior procedure (Lincoln, Lynham, and Guba.
2011).

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Comparison and Key features:
Pragmatism also deals with the empirical world, however, the pragmatism aims to decide
upon and find put the consequences of actions and thoughts, on the other hand,
Constructivism decides upon the reason of any happening that takes place within the society.
Pragmatism includes a manipulative and experimental methodology in its orientation,
whereas, Constructivism includes a hermeneutical or dialectical approach.
Pragmatism includes the knowledge of dualism and critical tradition and constructivism
includes the knowledge of subjectivity and observations (Ratner. 2011).
Paradigm and Subjectivity and Objectivity:
Subjectivity refers to the subjective viewpoints and the ideas regarding a subject, and the
objectivity refers to the passive observer of the natural phenomenon. Therefore, the
Pragmatism helps the researcher to observe a social phenomenon from an objective
perspective and then change the paradigm and add a subjective perspective.

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References:
Lincoln, Y.S., Lynham, S.A. and Guba, E.G., 2011. Paradigmatic controversies,
contradictions, and emerging confluences, revisited. The Sage handbook of qualitative
research, 4, pp.97-128.
Ratner, C., 2011. Macro cultural psychology: A political philosophy of mind. Oxford
University Press.