![]() Paradigm shifts may be the result of new knowledge being introduced into the domain through new evidence or as a result of new ways of conceptualising or thinking about a problem or as a result of fundamental changes occurring in society (for example, major technological inventions like the printing press in the 15th century or computer technology in the 20th century or major political-economic-social changes like the industrial and democratic revolutions of the 18th century).Įven when the above change factors exist, change may be inhibited due to different reasons like: 1) fixed mindsets that oppose all change, 2) organisational and institutional inertia, 3) autocratic, suppressive and other anti-democratic practices that resist change for the better, and 4) monopolistic, structural and socio-economic barriers to change. The latter phenomenon is perhaps more typical of paradigm shifts, especially if the field is highly diverse in which case the different parts of the domain may not change to the same degree or in the same ways. Paradigm shifts may happen relatively quickly (that is, in a revolutionary way) or they may happen relatively slowly (that is, in an evolutionary way) or they may be both revolutionary and evolutionary in that the change occurs over a long period of time but is punctuated by periodic revolutions. When a paradigm shift occurs, the worldview that previously dominated the domain is altered or even replaced with a new worldview.Ī paradigm shift causes the entire domain to think and act in new ways. This concept is now used more broadly to describe fundamental changes that occur in any domain, discipline or field. The concept of paradigm shift comes mainly from the work of Thomas Kuhn in the context of revolutions in natural science. This change has been precipitated by unprecedented demand for high quality and meaningful education at all levels across the globe. The field of education, at both the basic and higher education levels, has undergone tremendous change since World War II. Paradigm shifts can occur at any of these levels and may cut across these levels. ![]() Many of these concepts have been discussed in some detail in previous University World News articles.Ī paradigm shift is a radical change in the core concepts and practices of a given domain, discipline or field. Indeed, many of the problems and issues facing humanity today are so large and complex and global in scope, they require a diverse team of experts that can apply a multi-perspective view that uses knowledge and skills from different domains, disciplines and fields. As such, the prevailing worldview often reflects the predominant paradigm. Thus, a paradigm is ultimately a worldview (that is, a mode of inquiry – a particular way of understanding and interacting with the world) that guides the thinking and practices of individuals and groups. For instance, the fields of education, medicine, engineering, business and technology cut across several disciplines from the different domains.įurthermore, each domain has its own epistemological, ontological and axiological focus of study and perspective of the world and each domain makes its own unique contribution to the world. There are varying degrees of overlap between the different domains, disciplines and fields and any analysis should therefore consider the different levels and types of knowledge and their intersections. ![]() Many disciplines and fields are now multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary. It is typically from fields that communities of practice emerge. So, from an educational perspective, at the domain level, there is the scientific paradigm, the humanistic paradigm and the artistic paradigm.įields are particular areas of study within a discipline, or that cut across several disciplines, and they are usually centred on applied knowledge (for example, professions, careers or occupations). Thus, broadly defined, a paradigm is a related set of concepts and practices (that is, a mode of inquiry together with the related theories, principles, models, taxonomies, methods, rules and assumptions) that define and provide the example of or the framework for a given knowledge domain (science, humanities, art) and discipline and field. ![]() ![]() Tweet The word paradigm comes from the Greek meaning framework or example. ![]()
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