Pragmatic is an approach to research and problem solving that is based on the principles of democracy and action-oriented research (Morgan 2014a). This is an ideal approach for addressing problems in socially situated settings where complex and diverse issues require multiple approaches. The pragmatic paradigm has a number of key tenets including the utilisation of the scientific method of inquiry, the use of flexible and freewheeling research methods as opposed to a rigid structuralist framework, and an alignment with democratic values such as participation, cooperation and collaboration.
The pragmatist epistemology is founded on the premise that knowledge is a product of our experience and that this knowledge is not objective but subjective. It does not see knowledge as reality but rather a way of managing one’s life and taking part in the world around us (Rorty 1980).
As a philosophical doctrine, pragmatism arose in the late 19th century in the United States from the ideas of philosopher Charles Sanders Peirce, philosopher, sociologist, psychologist, and educator John Dewey; philosopher and education reformer Chauncey Wright; and jurist Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. Pragmatism is a philosophical movement that encompasses epistemology, ethics and the philosophy of law.
When examining the research process, a researcher that employs pragmatism will choose the research design and methodology that is most relevant to answering the research question at hand. A pragmatist research approach is more concerned with what works than whether a theory is ‘true’ or not (Goldkuhl 2012). This may result in an investigative path that moves back and forth between abductive reasoning and inductive hypothesis testing, with the goal of discovering data that will answer the research question at hand.
Similarly, the pragmatic paradigm is well suited to participatory organisational research (POR) because of its focus on the democratic model of research and its commitment to progress. The pragmatist belief that problems are best defined and addressed by communities with the help of the most appropriate research methods ensures that the outcomes of research can be applied in real-world situations. Moreover, the centrality of democracy within pragmatism also promotes collaborative research models such as James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnerships that are an example of how a pragmatic paradigm can enhance the practicality of POR.
The pragmatist research framework is also a good fit for patient-oriented research (POR) because it encourages researchers to work with communities from the outset of project conception and to clearly define roles, responsibilities and objectives. This is a fundamentally democratic approach that can contribute to reducing imbalances of power and minimizing potential harms to patients and other stakeholders.
