Research Paradigms in Social Work: A Conceptual Framework

Research paradigms provide the philosophical foundation that guides the entire research process by shaping how reality is understood, knowledge is generated, and research methods are selected. In Social Work research, where complex human experiences and social issues are examined, an understanding of research paradigms is essential for conducting meaningful and methodologically sound studies. This paper presents an overview of the concept, importance, and application of research paradigms in Social Work. It discusses the major philosophical components of a research paradigm, including ontology, epistemology, axiology, and methodology, and explains how these influence research design and the interpretation of findings. The paper further examines the major research paradigms positivism, post-positivism, interpretivism, critical theory, and pragmatism and highlights their relevance to qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods research. It argues that selecting an appropriate research paradigm helps ensure conceptual clarity, methodological consistency, and the production of credible and contextually relevant knowledge. The paper concludes that a clear understanding of research paradigms is essential for researchers, educators, and practitioners to conduct scientifically rigorous and ethically informed Social Work research.