Crossparadigmatic

Crossparadigmatic is an adjective used in scholarly discourse to describe approaches, analyses, or theories that traverse or integrate multiple epistemological paradigms. In contrast to methods that adhere to a single paradigm, crossparadigmatic work seeks coherence across diverse assumptions about knowledge, evidence, and explanation. The term emphasizes crossing boundaries between schools of thought rather than solely between disciplines.

The word is a modern coinage formed from cross-, paradigm, and -matic. It is most often encountered in discussions of interdisciplinary and integrative research, where researchers aim to synthesize insights from different epistemologies, such as positivist, interpretivist, critical, or pragmatic orientations. The concept aligns with methodological pluralism and transdisciplinarity by prioritizing constructive dialogue among paradigms rather than a single, dominant framework.

In practice, crossparadigmatic work may combine quantitative and qualitative methods, use theory from multiple paradigms to frame questions, or develop models that accommodate varied types of evidence. Advantages include richer explanatory potential and increased robustness through triangulation; challenges include reconciling incompatible assumptions, differing standards of evidence, and potential risks of superficial synthesis. Success often depends on explicit justification and transparent synthesis criteria.

Related concepts include cross-disciplinary, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research, mixed methods, and methodological pluralism. The term remains less standardized than established paradigms and is used variably across fields.