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QUESTION:
Dear Dr. Glaersfeld,
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I am a Phd student and have used
constructivism as a research paradigm for case studies. My
examiners in the viva thought I had better used interpretivism
rather than constructivism. How do you see any link between the
two? Is interpretivism part of constructivism or vice versa? I
had thought that both are interrelated to some extent as have
been argued by some researchers. For example according to
Michael Crotty, Constructionism is an epistemology, while
Interpretivism is a theoretical perspective within the
constructionist epistemology. (Crotty, Michael (1999). The
foundations of social research: Meaning and perspective in the
research process. London: Sage.
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Your views on this will enlighten me and
perhaps many more. Many thanks
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I look forward to receiving a response from
you
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Best wishes
AMIN REHMANI
Manager Training and Quality Assurance
Aga Khan University Examination Board
Banglow No 233/E 1 Line, Daudpotta Road
Behind hotel Mehran, Shahrah-e- Faisal
Karachi
ANSWER :
Dear Mr. Rehmani,
I am afraid I never really studied "interpretivism". The bits
I came across led me to believe that it sprang from the hope
that by approaching experience hermeneutically one could get
closer to Reality. This is incompatible with radical
constructivism, because for RC ontological reality is not
accessible in any way. I suppose your examiners do not like
such a radical point of view. It may be wise to work on
interpretivism and to bring out its contradictions.
Best wishes,
Ernst von Glasersfeld
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