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7.2.3 Too Hard, Too Soft, Just Right … Goldilocks and Three Research Paradigms in SE
Author(s) -
Cropley David H,
Harris Michael B
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
incose international symposium
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2334-5837
DOI - 10.1002/j.2334-5837.2004.tb00585.x
Subject(s) - goldilocks principle , management science , qualitative research , soft systems methodology , broad spectrum , computer science , engineering ethics , hard and soft science , engineering , sociology , social science , information system , management information systems , chemistry , physics , electrical engineering , astrobiology , combinatorial chemistry
This paper examines the spectrum of methodologies that can be utilized in research in general. The two primary categories, quantitative and qualitative, traditionally find use in particular discipline areas. This paper will examine the characteristics of common quantitative and qualitative methodologies and discuss how these can be applied to research in systems engineering. The result is a wide choice of methodologies covering both the functionalist (hard) and interpretive (soft) paradigms. The broad focus of systems engineering, covering both hard (technical) and soft (socio‐technical) approaches, will be shown to benefit from a broad appreciation of the full range of research methods. The paper discusses the predisposition to quantitative methods that dominates engineering thinking and argues for the inclusion of qualitative research methods in the toolkit of systems engineering researchers.