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Research paradigms:

A paradigm talks about the methods or approach of conducting a research, types of research paradigms consists of Positivist Paradigm, constructive or Interpretivist Paradigm and Pragmatism each of these paradigms can be further differentiated by analyzing their Ontology. Epistemology and methodology.

Positivism/Positivist Paradigm:

Positivism is about the knowledge obtained methodically through scientific experiments in simple terms talks about the knowledge gained through observations, facts and figures. Positivism is an approach that tests objective theories by analyzing measurable variables. This could also be known as the scientific method or modernism.

According to Creswell 2011, scientific knowledge is derived from the accumulation of data obtained theory free and value free from observation. This suggests that anything that cannot be observed and thus in some way measured (that is quantified), is of little or no importance.

Interpretivism and constructivism:

This approach considers the rapid changes that happen in  the society and these changes could be interpreted in  various ways according to the past experiences and perspective of individuals. This approach helps a topic to be researched without imposing much constrains unlike in positivism.

Pragmatism:

This approach considers practicality rather than theoretical or idealistic knowledge, in this approach a researcher might arrive at a conclusion through either subjective or objective way or sometimes from a combination of both ways. This approach considers both quantitative and qualitative approaches and hence provides a better understanding over the research problem.

  

The Three Paradigms are different in Onto-logically, Epistemology and Methodical aspects which is illustrated below:

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Modernism:

Modernism talks about a set of social cultural movements that happened in the   19^th century and included reforming movements in the fields of arts, music architecture, literature etc.

Modernism excelled in logical thinking as they believed in learning form the experience of the past.

Postmodernism:

Postmodernism describes a movement in the late 20^th century and focused on philosophy, the arts, architecture and criticism which marked a departure from modernism

Postmodernism refuses objective knowledge through scientific methods and it values the subjective and various opinions of individuals rather than that of one.