A Study of Scientific and Naturalistic Paradigms of Knowledge

By Lani Rahmawati (1232010119) 5th Semester Student / Department of Islamic Education Management, Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teacher Training, Bachelor's Degree Program, Sunan Gunung Djati State Islamic University, Bandung.

Research paradigms are an important foundation that determines the direction, approach, and analysis strategy in educational management research. Education is inseparable from the process of seeking and developing knowledge. However, the way we understand knowledge is influenced by the paradigm used. With a paradigm, education does not proceed randomly, but follows a clear pattern in accordance with values, needs, and developments of the times. Every paradigm, whether scientific or natural, has strengths and limitations that can complement each other. Therefore, this paper aims to describe two main paradigms in educational management so that research can be more targeted, applicable, and contextual.

First: The scientific paradigm is a framework of thinking that emphasizes the pursuit of knowledge through systematic, objective, and measurable procedures. According to Thomas Kuhn, a paradigm is a foundation of thinking, a basic concept, and also a foundation of thinking that is used or adopted as a model or basic concept by scientists in conducting their studies.
This approach usually uses a quantitative approach based on positivistic logic. The scientific paradigm is widely used in educational management research, especially those aimed at testing the effectiveness of policies, performance, and educational programs. For example, student satisfaction survey research can provide an objective picture of the quality of school services, and the scientific paradigm is also used in educational policy analysis.

Second: The natural paradigm is essentially based on efforts to understand human experiences holistically, deeply, and contextually. This paradigm is not oriented towards numbers or statistics, but rather towards the meaning behind social events and actions. In the context of educational management research, the natural paradigm provides space for researchers to capture the dynamics of interaction, perception, and values that develop within an institution. In the naturalistic paradigm, data collection techniques play a central role. The naturalistic paradigm is highly relevant in educational management research, especially when the focus is on understanding processes, contexts, and social dynamics in schools. The naturalistic approach provides an opportunity to explore the in-depth experiences of educational actors, so that the solutions offered are more contextual and applicable.

Third: The difference between scientific and natural paradigms lies in the way of viewing and acquiring knowledge. The scientific paradigm emphasizes an objective, measurable, and empirical data-based approach. Knowledge is considered valid if it can be tested through scientific methods, such as observation, experimentation, and quantitative analysis. Meanwhile, the natural paradigm emphasizes understanding meaning, experience, and social and cultural context. Knowledge is seen as arising from human interaction with the environment, and is therefore subjective and qualitative. These two paradigms cannot be considered mutually exclusive. In fact, they complement each other in enriching educational studies. The choice of paradigm must be tailored to the problem formulation, research objectives, and field context.

Fourth: The knowledge paradigm in educational management research is an important foundation that determines the perspective, strategy, and results obtained from a study. The scientific paradigm with its objective, systematic, and quantitative approach is very useful for measuring the effectiveness, performance, and policies of education in a measurable way. Meanwhile, the natural paradigm with a qualitative approach emphasizes a deep understanding of meaning, context, and human experience in the world of education.

The knowledge paradigm in educational management research is an important foundation that determines the perspective, strategy, and results obtained from a study. The scientific paradigm with its objective, systematic, and quantitative approach is very useful for measuring the effectiveness, performance, and policies of education in a measurable way. Meanwhile, the natural paradigm with a qualitative approach emphasizes a deep understanding of meaning, context, and human experience in the world of education.

This article is a review of Part 1 (Scientific and Natural Knowledge Paradigms) from the teaching materials for the Management Research Methods course, taught by Prof. Dr. H. A Rusdiana, M.M. (https://digilib.uinsgd.ac.id/id/eprint/121673).

(Sumber: CV Lani Rahmawati)