Critical realism in research

The critical realist research paradigm, what's it all about? This introductory video guides you through the three realms of empirical, actual, and real, and gives you an overview of critical realist ontology and epistemology.
Critical realism can seem very abstract, conceptual, and difficult to understand, but essentially what it boils down to is a belief that the things we can't see impact upon the things we can see.
The underlying power structures and inequalities inherent within society impact on what actually happens and how we experience it.
Critical realist research pays attention to the individual experience but situates that within the broader social, political, and economic context. It's kind of like a halfway point between a wholly micro approach, which focuses solely upon the individual, and a wholly macro approach, which focuses on social structures and systems.
Let me know your questions in the comments; together we will demystify social science research paradigms!
Chapters
0:00 - 1:33 Introduction and overview
1:34 - 3:07 Paradigms
3:08 - 4:36 Ontology and epistemology
4:37 - 6:00 Critical realism - key points
6:01 - 8:09 Critical realist example - understanding poverty
8:10 - 9:15 Critical realist ontology and epistemology
9:16 - 11:38 Critical realist research study example Galazka & O'Mahoney (2021)
11:39 - 12:19 Recap
// Other helpful videos in this series and beyond //
Part 1 - What are paradigms? • Paradigms of research ...
Part 2 - Positivism • What is positivism in ...
Part 3 - Interpretivism • What is interpretivism...
Ontology and epistemology explained • Ontology and epistemol...
Reflective and reflexive, what's the difference? • What's the difference ...
// Example article from the video //
Galazka, A., & O’Mahoney, J. (2023). The Socio-Materiality of Dirty Work: A Critical Realist Perspective. Work, Employment and Society, 37(2), 432-448. doi.org/10.1177/0950017021101...
// Read my blog series about paradigms //
Start here with this blogpost on positivism www.thedegreedoctor.com/blog/...

[@jaythemusicguy]

The more I’ve read around this, and reviewed it around my conceptual model (Demerouti & Bakker’s Jobs Demands Resources) I am finding a fit with my mixed methods study into burnout in medical imaging professionals working shifts and nights in the UK. Thankyou for your personal angle on this, really helpful.

[@DegreeDoctor]

Wow, what a fascinating area of research, how exciting! I'm so pleased you found my video helpful. All the very best with your study :-)

[@marklivos]

I honestly want to thank you for breaking this down in such a layman's language. I am doing my Master's of Social Work & I think your channel will be my go-to place when I need a better understanding.

[@DegreeDoctor]

You're so welcome! I'm really pleased you found this helpful. Welcome to my channel!

[@CTMusic97]

Hi Dr. Elizabeth, came across this video after trying to read an article on four epistemological frameworks, and I left, as you said, even more confused about the complexities of each one. From what I COULD make out, I believe that critical realism is what will closely align with my PhD mixed-methods thesis. I will be looking at the prevalence and incidence of playing-related musculoskeletal disorders in post-secondary musicians through quantitative analysis. This will be followed with a qualitative analysis investigating students' perspective on their academic load and requirements and its effect on their health. Musculoskeletal injuries are increasingly common in musicians, alarmingly so in post-secondary students. I believe that a critical realist approach will allow me to uncover the underlying structures in higher education that influence students' diminishing health. My background has been in music performance and I've only recently delved into the world of qualitative analysis. Needless to say, it is a big learning curve and like walking on ice navigating around the different epistemological frameworks and ideologies. I look forward to watching the playlist you recommended to help!

[@DegreeDoctor]

What a fascinating and important topic you’re exploring! Sounds like critical realism could be a valuable approach too! Let me know if you have any questions 🤓

[@zamxm]

thank you very much. I discovered your channel couple of weeks ago through 'ontology vs epistemology. Talking about critical realism - is it fair to say that critical realism uncovers underlying structures but not critiquing the system? Do you have any video on critical theory?

[@DegreeDoctor]

Thank you so much for your question and welcome to the channel! To address your question: yes, it's fair to say that critical realism focuses on uncovering underlying structures without necessarily critiquing the system itself. Critical realism aims to reveal the hidden mechanisms that shape observable phenomena. Currently, I don't have any videos on critical theory, but I've added it to my list for future content. Watch this space!

[@AjFreibott3096]

Hi Dr. Elizabeth, thank you for this super helpful video! I am working on my Masters Dissertation for my MSc in Psychology of Mental Health and am wanting to adopt a critical realist approach. I am looking at how adolescents perceive their strengths and weaknesses via secondary data analysis. More specifically, I am looking at how adolescents with self-reported high/low self esteem and positive/negative affect differ in their perceptions of personal strengths/weaknesses. I'm super passionate about elevating the voices of adolescents in their own mental health and life journeys and I am very excited to deep dive into the data. I'm planning to adopt a critical realist stance and utilize reflexive TA for my qualitative analysis. I've just heard about ontology and epistemology for the first time, and feel I'm a bit adrift trying to figure out how to actually utilize these concepts to guide my research, and I'm especially confused because of the secondary data analysis aspect of my project. My background is in creative writing and sociology, so this conversion program has really been challenging me in terms of academic writing within a positivist paradigm, but I have been finding more of a home in qualitative research. I think critical realism is a great way to combine my present education with my prior training. Do you have any advice on how paradigms may differ in their approach to secondary data analysis? Thanks in advance!

[@DegreeDoctor]

Thank you for your kind words about the video. Your dissertation sounds amazing, what an important topic! Adopting a critical realist approach and using reflexive thematic analysis (TA) are excellent choices for your research. Ontology in critical realism acknowledges that real structures and mechanisms exist independently of our perceptions. While adolescents' perceptions of their strengths and weaknesses are subjective, underlying social and psychological factors influence these perceptions. Epistemologically, critical realism recognises that our knowledge of these structures is fallible and shaped by our experiences, aligning with your aim to elevate adolescents' voices. With secondary data, critical realism allows you to interpret the data by considering the broader context in which it was generated. This means analysing how adolescents’ responses might be influenced by their social environment, cultural norms, and personal experiences. It helps you look beyond surface-level data to understand deeper social and psychological mechanisms at play. Reflexive TA suits critical realism well as it emphasises the researcher's role and influence in the analysis process. Reflecting on your interpretations and how your background shapes your understanding is crucial. Identify themes in adolescents' perceptions and consider how societal expectations or psychological factors might influence these themes. Combining critical realism with reflexive TA allows you to honor the complexity of adolescents' experiences while uncovering deeper understandings. Different paradigms approach secondary data analysis uniquely. While positivism might focus on statistical relationships, critical realism delves into understanding underlying causes and contextual factors. Interpretivism, on the other hand, emphasises understanding the subjective meanings and individual lived experiences. I hope you find that helpful!

[@AjFreibott3096]

@@DegreeDoctor This is so amazingly helpful! Thank you so much.

[@DegreeDoctor]

@@AjFreibott3096 You're very welcome! 🙂

[@jasminepercha561]

Hey it been a long time dr elezabeth it could be wonderful if you suggest book on the topics you treat

[@DegreeDoctor]

Sure! I’ll pop some book recommendations in the comments but also be sure to check out the journal article I go through in the video - that’s a great illustration of applied critical realism.