Illuminating data beyond the tangible: exploring a conceptually-relevant paradigmatic frame for empirical inquiry with Muslim educators

Abstract

Effective social research tapping a broad range of human experiences must employ research paradigms that are consistent with the ontologies and epistemologies of the research participants, community, and contextual scholars. This paper describes the construction of a bricolage, imbricating Islamic and interpretivist concepts for coherence and rigor in engaging 35 Muslim–Canadian educators in interviews on their pedagogies. The act of centering an Islamic paradigm made data visible beyond a narrow secular Western frame, offering analytic precision and interpretive significance within Muslim educational communities. Illustrating this data–paradigm engagement, a collective data excerpt is presented on socio–spiritual development, whereby educators described establishing with young Muslims an overarching conceptual framework rooted in Islamic tradition to situate self, social, and spiritual relationships; embark holistic transformative actions with social, individual, and spiritual dimensions; and engage in continuous self-reflexivity triangulated with divinity (muhasaba). Offering a unique pedagogical approach to socio–spiritual development, this bricolage also challenged methodological singularity.