paradigmchosen

Paradigmchosen is a term used in discussions of research practices to denote the process by which a community selects a dominant framework or paradigm to guide inquiry, design, and evaluation. It emphasizes the choosing aspect of adopting a particular model of explanation, method, or evaluation criteria, as opposed to describing an objective, unchanged reality.

The term combines paradigm, a concept with roots in the Greek paradeigma meaning model or pattern, with chosen, indicating intentional selection. While not widely standardized in scholarly literature, paradigmchosen is used in theoretical essays and methodological debates to analyze how groups settle on a framework and what consequences follow from that selection.

Definition and scope: paradigmchosen describes how actors compare competing paradigms based on criteria such as explanatory adequacy, predictive success, internal coherence, practical feasibility, and alignment with goals. The chosen paradigm then shapes which questions are pursued, which methods are deployed, and how results are interpreted. In this sense, paradigmchosen sits at the intersection of epistemology, methodology, and organizational decision-making.

Applications: in science, paradigmchosen can mark the point where a community coalesces around a theory or research program, influencing experimental design and data interpretation. In technology and design, it can refer to selecting a design philosophy, data architecture, or risk-management framework. In policy and governance, it captures how models of causation and impact drive strategic choices and performance metrics.

Implications and debates: adopting a paradigm through paradigmchosen can foster coordination and efficiency, but may also create inertia and limit methodological diversity. Critics advocate reflexivity, ongoing evaluation of assumptions, and openness to alternative paradigms to mitigate bias.

See also: paradigm, paradigm shift, model selection, methodological pluralism, scientific methodology.