| Popis: |
Research in communication studies, as in any other field, is based on certain ontological and epistemological foundations that, together with research methodological assumptions, are often referred to as research paradigms. The three most common research paradigms in communication studies include positivism, interpretivism and critical theory. The ability of these paradigms to contribute to the development of scientific knowledge in communication studies will be questioned on the basis of the distinction between communication art (a skill acquired by experience, studying or observation) and communication science (knowledge capable of resulting in a prediction or predictable type of outcome). All three paradigms are charged with a failure to formulate laws or regularities and thus advance communication studies as a science. An alternative “mixed methodologies” approach is also ruled out due to the incommensurability of positivism on the one hand, and interpretivism with critical theory on the other. Mixing these paradigms is not possible because they are based on mutually exclusive ontologies (realism and non-realism, respectively) and methodologies (empiricism or constructivism, respectively). |
