Pragmatic is a research paradigm that views the goal of scientific inquiry as the generation of knowledge to help address real-world problems. This paradigm allows researchers to use a variety of methods and sources of data to answer research questions and advance science. It is particularly appropriate for multimethod and mixed methods research, where both quantitative and qualitative data are collected and analyzed.
Unlike other research paradigms that view the process of knowledge generation as a linear and sequential process, pragmatism is an a posteriori approach that recognizes the dynamic nature of human thought. In order to make sense of the world around us, humans must constantly re-interpret reality based on changing environmental conditions and our own internal thoughts.
This process of pragmatic interpretation is the driving force behind all human behavior, from how we learn language as infants to the way in which we communicate with one another. The discipline of pragmatics examines the way in which utterances are constructed and the implications of what is said. It takes into account the context of an utterance, the speaker’s perspective, the listener’s expectations and the socially acceptable norms of behavior in a particular situation.
It’s important to note that a pragmatic perspective doesn’t devalue the importance of scientific research or the need for rigorous thinking. However, it does place a high value on experiential knowledge. In the context of Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (POR), this means ensuring that patients’ perspectives and input are actively included in all stages of a project, from project conception through design, implementation, evaluation and priority setting partnerships.
The idea of pragmatics is also reflected in the patient-centered movement in healthcare, which seeks to shift the focus of the medical industry away from treating disease and toward promoting health and wellness. This concept is rooted in the principle that patient experience and the quality of the care they receive is the most important factor in improving health outcomes.
Among the many areas of philosophy where pragmatism has made significant contributions is philosophy of action. In fact, the philosophy of action is sometimes referred to as pragmatic philosophy because it stresses the connection between thought and action. Pragmatism also plays a role in applied fields like public administration, political science and leadership studies as well as in research methodology.
William James was a classic pragmatist who emphasized that something is true only in so far as it works. He viewed a statement as pragmatic only in the sense that it has an actual or potential effect in the physical or psychological world in which we live. This approach is not antithetical to religion but it does leave the door open for supernatural claims to be legitimate.
