Pragmatism
A research philosophy that prioritizes practical consequences and real-world outcomes over abstract debates about the nature of reality.
What is Pragmatism?
Pragmatism sidesteps the traditional ontology wars (realism vs. constructivism) by arguing that the most important determinant of a research design should be the research question itself. It advocates for using whatever methodological approach (or combination thereof) works best to solve a specific problem, validating knowledge based on its practical utility and actionability.
Why Pragmatism Matters
Pragmatism serves as the primary philosophical foundation for mixed-methods research. It gives researchers permission to integrate quantitative and qualitative tools without violating philosophical boundaries, focusing instead on what is useful.
Example
A public health researcher studying a new diabetes intervention might first use quantitative surveys to measure patient adherence (positivist leaning) and then use qualitative focus groups to understand why certain patients struggled (interpretivist leaning), combining both to provide actionable recommendations for clinicians.
Common Mistakes
- Using pragmatism as an excuse for sloppy or 'anything goes' research design without a coherent rationale.
- Failing to explain how the specific combination of methods actually addresses the research problem better than a single method would.