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Methodology sections often treat research philosophy either as a formality or as an open-ended debate. This article takes a practical approach. It explains the term and its relationship to “paradigm,” introduces ontology, epistemology and axiology, and compares positivism, interpretivism, pragmatism, critical realism and postmodernism. Extracts from theses in information systems, education, public health and psychology illustrate four of these philosophies in use.

The article also shows how the wording of a research question indicates a philosophy, offers two checks on the choice, and proposes a four-part structure for the philosophy section of a methodology chapter. It is suited to research-methods courses at master's and doctoral level. The article is the formal edition of a piece first published by Grad Coach and is released under CC BY 4.0.

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