This paper will critically evaluate the two research approaches outlined by Admiraal and Wubbels (2005) within the context of my own research project. As a current practitioner in a primary school, I have chosen to focus my area of enquiry on the development of children’s literacy, specifically learning to read. My research will also be linked to the recent educational focus on closing the attainment gap between children from deprived backgrounds and those from wealthier families. (Sosu and Ellis, 2014, Save the Children, 2014). The main research question is: How does poverty and deprivation impact on children's ability to read well? By evaluating the two approaches, I will explore the relevance of each one in terms of my own project, before concluding which approach I feel is best suited for me to carry out my own research.…show more content… Bogdan & Biklen (2007, p. 24) define a paradigm as “a loose collection of logically related assumptions, concepts or propositions that orient thinking and research”. Guba and Lincoln (1994) separate the main paradigms of social and educational research based on three essential characteristics: ontology (What is real?), epistemology (How do you know?) and methodology (How do you find out?). In relation to Admiraal and Wubbels’ work, the two studies were characterised by contrasting paradigms; a rationalistic paradigm and a naturalistic paradigm. These two paradigms and their related methodologies will be discussed
