Positivism
Ontological standpoint	Foundationalist: there is an objective social and physical reality amenable to 'capture'. Reality relatively homogeneous so that samples can be taken which represent larger 'chunks'
Epistemological standpoint	'True' knowledge can be acquired which corresponds to reality if research is rigorous enough. Correspondence approach - knowledge increasingly corresponds to reality through accumulation and improvement. Cause and effect can be relatively easily established and 'if x, then y' type laws established.
Methodological approach	Scientific research design, including experimentation with control groups, careful sampling with care in establishing representativeness in those studied so that results correspond to wider reality. Hypothetico-deductive research design model preferred.
Preferred data collection methods	Closed-ended questionnaires, structured interviews, experiments, psychometric tests.
Preferred data analysis methods	Statistical tests on quantitative data, multiple 'blind' judges categorizing any qualitative responses.
Common limits on truth claims	Theories may be subject to refutation by attempts to replicate earlier studies or by new evidence. Always necessary to establish clearly the boundaries of claims for knowledge being made. Predictions can be reliably made if this is done
Perspective on validity	Validity established if the research instruments used are suitable to collect data which represent an accurate picture of what or who is being studied.
Perspective on reliability	Reliability established if design and implementation of study gives faith in its results. This achieved by carefully following positivist principles of research design.