Description

INTRODUCTION: Toward a new research philosophy for addressing social justice issues: Critical dialectical pluralism 1.0

ANTHONY J ONWUEGBUZIE AND REBECCA K FRELS*

Department of Educational Leadership and Counseling, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX, USA;

*Lamar University, Beaumont, TX, USA

Abstract

We introduce a new mixed research paradigm: Critical dialectical pluralism. We describe critical dialectical pluralism with respect to three axiomatic components (i.e., ontological, epistemological, and methodological foundations) and seven issues (i.e., nature of knowledge, knowledge accumulation, goodness or quality criteria, values, ethics, inquirer posture, and training). Critical dialectical pluralists are committed to research that promotes and sustains an egalitarian society; aims to promote both universalistic theoretical knowledge and local practical knowledge; and promotes culturally progressive research. Several exemplars of critical dialectical pluralist research are presented demonstrating that critical dialectical pluralism has the potential to promote social justice more than does any other paradigm.

Keywords: critical dialectical pluralism, social justice, research philosophy, mixed research, mixed methods research