Abstract :
In Malaysia, a qualitative research approach has not yet become a major methodology among social science researchers. Yusoff (2001: vii) has been argued that qualitative research can not be regarded as additional or ancillary approach does not require the researcher to seriously mainstream”. The argument in this paper is whether the research in social science paradigm is focused on positivist or non-positivist in Malaysia. Currently this issue has become an open discussion among social science researchers in Malaysia (Salleh, 2003; R. Ray, 2003; Yusoff, 2001) or abroad (NK Denzin Lincoln, 1998; Guba Lincoln, 1994; Kelly, 1999: Cannon, 1998; Patton, 2002), especially issues involving social science research methods qualitative flowing. Therefore, the scope of writing in this paper is divided into three parts. The first part will discuss the debate in the empirical study and methodological issues especially in the social science research. In this section, researcher will focus on the debate in social science research rather than pure science. Research experience before and during doctoral studies (Doctor of Philosophy, PhD) will be considered in the second part. The focus in this section is how to transition of researcher initially influenced by the positivist paradigm and ultimately appreciate the non-positivist paradigm when he was at the University of Wollongong, Australia. The last section in this paper will discuss the lessons received during and before in Australia and the future of social science research which based on non-positivist paradigm in Malaysia.
