Research Paradigms by Burrell and Morgan

These four research paradigms come from Burrell & Morgan (1979) to explain the way they saw the social-scientific world. This video gives an overview, explains the two main axes in their model, and explains each of the four paradigms: Functionalist, interpretive, radical humanist, and radical structuralist.
We can use this model to more clearly understand the research and theory we are reading and locate our own work. Both authors have backgrounds in organizational studies and their framework makes the most sense from this point of view.
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[@orgcomm]

Free PDF download of the 5 Essential Communication Skills for Professionals: bit.ly/2K9Gile-QuickGuide

[@Reyjey]

Finally found someone able to explain in a plain and simple way! Thank you.

[@orgcomm]

Thanks. Glad it helped you.

[@JNZ96]

its 2022 and its still relevant with a 9 mins video that really got the base idea behind the sociological paradigms across.

[@ameliazhao5579]

Very clear and helpful! The examples in each quadrant makes it easier to understand. Thanks so much!

[@hamayoonshah1990]

I only found this single video on this topic in the entire youtube... Thanks A lot

[@clufmench7282]

wow, one semester of studying in 9 minutes ! Thank you so much for the explaination

[@orgcomm]

Glad it was helpful!

[@FernandoTheBeast28]

I've been seeking this information for a while.

[@laraya80]

I loved it! You gave some great examples and made it much more relatable. Thank you!

[@mevunimendis1733]

Found this very useful to understand the paradigms in a very simple manner

[@nguyenngockhanhvy7409]

Your video is extremely helpful !! Thank you so much !!

[@carolhordattgentles2169]

This is an excellent explanation and resource. Thanks!!!!

[@rosarioparada3979]

Thank you! you explained so well, I was so confused by Morgan's article.

[@orgcomm]

You're welcome, Rosario.

[@FKgaming901]

This presentation about research paradigm so beneficial for me and sir your way of delivering so nice and perfect excellent

[@ismaelspechtintuition3519]

Great explanation. Easy to understand. Thanks for sharing.

[@nadiaabbas4792]

Thank you so much for making it so easy to understand.

[@orgcomm]

Glad it was helpful!

[@staceyleasca]

Thank you for the easy to follow video!

[@lemlemdemma1818]

Sir thank you for everything . 🙏

[@dyslexicbraincoach]

Perfect explanation 👌

[@faisalmohamoudartan6532]

Thank you.

[@WebMedics]

Really good overview! Thank you 🙏🏼

[@ahmednasr0]

cool presentation! thanks a lot!

[@orgcomm]

Glad you liked it, Ahmed.

[@celerycelo3864]

Really great explanations!! thank you

[@ariannevanderwal6201]

great explanation!

[@mariecarmelleourlaineconst4474]

Thank you Extremely helpful!

[@cdmarkandu]

Very interesting!!!! Thank you!

[@orgcomm]

Glad it was helpful.

[@lucyeldridge778]

very helpful and very interesting, thank you!

[@kimberley-annblack2780]

Would you happen to know the artist (or link) of the picture showing the person peaking under the blue sky screen? This is very impactful.

[@corruptional6106]

Thanks for the free lesson.

[@orgcomm]

No problem. :-)

[@isabelltvedt-dahl2078]

Beautiful! Thanks.

[@orgcomm]

Hi Isabell. Thank you for the encouragement. I'm glad the video was helpful.

[@ProfessorRovian]

Since functionalism is a way to categorize research, could I say that thsse 4 paradigms are a functionalist way to see the world? So, if I believe that this 4 paradigms are the true, than I am a funcionalist researcher, and if everybody believe that these 4 paradigms are true, then everybody is a functionalist. Am I right? And to make my question clear I make another question, could an interpretative researcher have developed these paradigms?

[@orgcomm]

That's a good point! I would only replace the word people with research perspectives. But, I think you are 100% right. This is a functionalist model.

[@ProfessorRovian]

@@orgcomm Done 😉. Thanks for the answer.

[@nelsonartemio4218]

I am drawn to the work of Karl Marx but also to the work of Paulo Freire. What are your thoughts on the blending of paradigms? I do think that our social worlds are jointly constructed in discourse and that those agents with a greater discursive power do a lot of work to shape our thinking about who we are and what roles we play. I also believe that the nature of capitalism necessarily leads to predictable outcomes in the relationship between workers and the capitalists. How can you become emancipated if the structures in which you are embedded do not allow for you to imagine any different visions for your life? Feeling a bit confused; are these mutually exclusive? Thanks!

[@orgcomm]

Good questions, Nelson. I'm not the right person to sort it all out, I'm afraid. So, I'll only add this and let you sort out the rest. As far as blending paradigms go, I think that might be putting the focus in the wrong place. It think it's best to follow research and theory we are each passionate about and let that drive the bus. The paradigms, from my view, are just ways to put various approaches into buckets to better understand how they are similar and different. I don't think this framework should be a guide to how we might approach our work. To me, it's just a schema for understanding work that's already been done. I imagine it would be hard to exist in more than one box for any given study but most researchers do various studies over time and those can each exist in different boxes even while following the same research agenda. They are just different ways to study an issue. But, I have no opinion about the specific theorists you mentioned.

[@nelsonartemio4218]

@@orgcomm Actually your response leads me to some interesting questions. Thank you. I subbed because I have been looking for some good Comm theory content and here you are! So, thanks again.

[@edfinbow]

Really helpful, thank you!

[@alexanderlyon]

Thanks for the feedback, Ed. I appreciate it.

[@JoaoRangelSilvaPsicologia]

Amazing, thank you for the video!!

[@CamilaBelliKraus]

thank you so much for this video!!!!

[@orgcomm]

You're welcome, Camila. Thank you for your encouragement.

[@bulanyeom3805]

very helpful thanks!!

[@jungwoohan9815]

great summary! thanks!

[@zeeshanqamar3426]

Really good explanation thanks n respect from Pakistan 👍

[@orgcomm]

Glad it was helpful. You're welcome from New York State!!! Yay, Pakistan.

[@rawrrawr1307]

So what are the two things that led to this? Is it just regulation and stabilty vs radical change, and then theories vs objective?

[@sophiashipley4310]

Where would prospect theory stand in these paradigms? (Prospect theory genuinely the idea that people would rather avoid a loss even if it maximises utility) Prospect theory can be associated with gambling in the sense that the player tries to avoid loss by playing less risky, thus where would gambling sit in the four paradigms?

[@orgcomm]

Hi, Sophia. I've not yet heard of that theory. Without knowing more, I would try to guess. Sorry I can't be more helpful for that theory.

[@primarintrukmikro1236]

Kontoldawah

[@tilkesh]

Thx

[@vishnusai5491]

I would like to know that the authoritarian culture in organisations comes under what paradigm?

[@orgcomm]

These paradigms help position how researchers study organizational life. There are various ways to study an authoritarian culture in an organization. In theory, it could be studied within any of the four paradigms.

[@bernan1]

@@orgcomm Halfway through it seems like this vid shifts from paradigms of analysis to advocacy. It seems to get away from the 4 paradigms being part of a toolbox for analysis, instead implying one would subscribe to one model. Which might be confusing when conflated. After all, a researcher could use all 4 to contrast different ways of looking at an issue without advocating for change, but merely observing how some may call for change.

[@tracymoss451]

What a great, easily understood explanation of Burrell & Morgan. Can I download this and reference it in my literature review?

[@orgcomm]

Hi Tracy. I recommend you look directly at Burrell and Morgan's writing. Plus, KZbin doesn't allow downloading. But, I'm glad the explanation was helpful for you.

[@tracymoss451]

@@orgcomm Thank you, yes I am familiar with B & M's work... I've used it in the classroom as a way to discuss the idiom "think outside the box." I like your visuals, especially the lift the curtain one you used for the functionalist perspective.

[@ManuelCantrellCedilloJrZIV]

Wow.

[@rashidrv7028]

Is this a persons perception towards society?

[@orgcomm]

Not really. Each paradigm represents the researchers assumptions. The model is about how research is done, how researcher's view the thing they are studying.

[@rashidrv7028]

@@orgcomm thank you. Which paradigm would be used to analyse an organisation's culture?

[@randywilliams5038]

So what is a paradigm?

[@orgcomm]

A pattern, model, or established way of thinking about something.

[@sirobertson7806]

I have ants in my eyes

[@gaminglouis1157]

subject shouldnt even be existed in universities :)