Critical research includes a structural and systematic analysis of the general context, which is essential in social studies. It is divided into emancipatory and transformative research, supposed to use different paradigms for investigation (Lather, 1986). This division corresponds to the needs of the research and reflects the motivation the scholar sets before writing it. For instance, the transformative type of qualitative research focuses on changing society, appealing to the existing injustice or inequality, and emphasizing the necessity of profound transformation (Lather, 1986). It is possible to make parallels between this type of ideological research and propaganda.
The transformative critical investigation not only appeals to loud claims but also describes the objective basis that determines these assumptions (Lather, 1986). Emancipatory research, in turn, is an example of a study that focuses on the existing problem, discussing its causes, the current state, and possible consequences (Lather, 1986). The topics where critical research is typically used suppose the appeal to the ideological component that determines the causes of the events, the motivations, and the conclusions.
The notion of critical research and its objectivity that is neutral by the character is discussed by Lather. She states that postpositivist research has four criteria, an example of combined post-qualitative and critical research (Lather, 1986). The first criterion is the triangulation of theories, sources of information, and methods that allow testing the assumptions the author makes (Lather, 1986). The second criterion is reflexivity subjectivity, which aims at understanding whether all statements the researcher makes are logical (Lather, 1986). The third is face validity, which is achieved by emerging analysis, recycling categories, and testing the conclusions using the sub-sample of the participants (Lather, 1986). The last criterion is the catalyst validity that reflects the respondents’ activism and the basis for making the particular insights in the study (Lather, 1986). These details show that critical postpositivist research is persuasive, and ideological issues are essential in evaluating the trustworthiness and validity of the study.
The criteria mentioned earlier are discussed in the context of postpositivist research that emphasizes the problems that positivism disregards. The precise attention to the complex character of human experience and impaired vision of these issues are among the topics that postpositivist studies develop (Lather, 1986). Social sciences require developing new approaches to viewing the themes perceived as part of the traditional culture (Lather, 1986). In other words, the development of a society based on the liberal model and the destruction of the conventional discourse in popular culture proved the need to elaborate new scholarly investigation principles. Postpositivist research allows scientists to develop these new methods and visions of the social issues that the traditional approach cannot satisfy.
The critical theory emphasizes the hypothesis that all information is connected with the ideological interest of a particular social group. It is impossible to find the sphere in social sciences where the side will not use the data with a clearly defined ideological background (Lather, 1986). Therefore, it is essential to purify the knowledge in scientific research, making it as neutral as possible, but complete objectivity cannot be achieved.
The primary claim of postpositivist critical research is that ideological restrictions do not limit research opportunities. Instead, they allow scholars to apply different approaches to obtaining and analyzing the data (Lather, 1986). Ideological knowledge can change the surrounding reality, not only describe it, as Gramsci initially articulated in his works about the current praxis (Lather, 1986). It allows postpositivist critical research to find a balance between the neutral description of facts and how this data can become a transformative power.
The concept of self-reflexivity can be found in qualitative research, and critical study is no exception. Lather writes about the importance of applying this principle in ideological research. He claims that the investigation in a post-positivism context supposes a significant self-corrective slant because it allows avoiding changing the information to make it correspond to the preconceived interpretive schemes. The postpositivist discourse showed that even when the research follows the appropriate method, it does not mean that the study results will be accurate (Lather, 1986, p. 65).
In other words, the self-reflexivity principle allows the author to correct themselves and to check the study for existing ambiguities without asking for external assistance. Even though this technique does not substitute the thorough checking of the research based on all criteria of validity and trustworthiness, it helps the author avoid unnecessary mistakes.
The notions of objectivity and neutrality are vital in critical research because they allow scholars to find the truth without emphasizing only the ideological message. The ideological research is challenging due to the controversies and subjectivity that the particular viewpoint features. The criteria of the ideological research articulated by Laher are justified by logic and practice. The significant distinction from the qualitative research is the analysis of the activists of the respondents and the reasons that motivate them. The appeal to the catalyst validity makes the critical research trustworthy and valid despite the possible controversial ideological background.
Reference List
Lather, P. (1986) ‘Issues of validity in openly ideological research: Between a rock and a soft place’, Interchange 17(4), pp. 63-84.