methods and paradigms – Nursing Education Network

This article explains why ontology, epistemology, and research paradigms are necessary in health research. Its fundamental message is that researchers can mix methods. However, they still have to work from a coherent paradigm. Assumptions about reality shape the research query, methods, evaluation, and interpretation.

Journal Club Article: Disbeschl, S., Checkland, K., Stutchbury, K., & Payne, R. (2026). “You can mix your methods, but you can’t mix your paradigms”: a guide to ontology and epistemology for the confused researcher. British Journal of General Practice, 76(762).

Why ontology and epistemology are necessary

The article shows that research isn’t neutral. It is all the time guided by assumptions about what reality is like. It can also be influenced by how knowledge is produced and the way it needs to be studied.

The article shows that research isn’t neutral. It is all the time guided by assumptions about what reality is like. It takes into consideration the way in which knowledge is produced. He also considers the way it needs to be studied.

• : seeks objective truth, prioritizing measurement, objectivity and repeatability.
• : sees knowledge as co-constructed, values ​​context, importance and the position of the researcher.
• : assumes that a fundamental reality exists but can only be partially known; focuses on elucidating the underlying causal mechanisms.
• : Prioritizes what’s most useful in solving the true problem and infrequently supports mixed methods.

A paradigm needs to be chosen since it suits the aim of the study, not just because a selected method is preferred.

The authors emphasize that combining quantitative and qualitative methods is appropriate, but researchers still need clarity on the philosophical position guiding the research.

What counts as rigor in positivist research isn’t the identical as what counts as rigor in interpretivist or critical realist research.

Clarity about assumptions helps in research design, peer review, collaboration, and obtaining reliable results.