Critical Realism
Answering your FAQs!
Critical realism and critical theory - are they the same thing?
If you’re a critical realist, does that mean you have to become a social justice warrior, and start demanding change? Can you still be a critical realist and not do that part of it?
That’s what we’re looking at in this blogpost!
I’m Dr. Elizabeth Yardley, and I help PhD students get out of their own way and finish their doctorates. Paradigms can be a big stumbling block for PhD students, because lets be frank, no one ever really explains what they are and by the time you get to your PhD, you feel weird asking about them because this is the kind of stuff you should just know, right?!
Well, don’t worry, because I love demystifying paradigms and helping you see they’re not as complex as they might seem.
A while ago, I wrote an introductory blog about about critical realism, linked here if you want to read it. .
One thing I noticed in response to that blogpost is that there’s some confusion around a few of the finer points of critical realism: Whether it’s inherently about social justice or if it’s a critique of power. What’s the difference between critical realism and critical theory? So, I thought, let’s write a blogpost about that, hence current blogpost!
Is critical realism about social justice?
Okay, first things first. Let’s talk about the word critical. When people hear “critical realism,” they often think it has something to do with being critical of social systems or maybe pushing for social justice.
And while it’s true that a lot of critical realist research does focus on social issues, the paradigm itself is actually more neutral.
So, why the word critical? In critical realism, being critical means we’re questioning surface appearances, and trying to understand the structures underneath. It’s less about criticising and more about inquiring.
Imagine you’re at a party, and everyone’s just chatting away. A critical realist walks in and says, “Hang on, I want to know why everyone’s here in the first place. What’s the event really about? Who decided on the guest list?”. They’re not there to shut down the party; they just want to understand the deeper dynamics that brought everyone there.
Now, let’s take another example to make this clearer. Say you’re studying healthcare access. A social justice perspective might immediately focus on inequalities and advocate for changes to make healthcare more accessible. And don’t get me wrong - that’s super important! But a critical realist approach would step back and say, “Alright, let’s look at the underlying structures that cause these healthcare inequalities. What hidden mechanisms are at play here? How do funding models, policy decisions, and economic factors all come together to create this situation?”
So, you see, while a lot of critical realist research can support social justice goals, the paradigm itself doesn’t mandate that. It’s more about understanding the causes, examining what’s happening behind the scenes. Whether or not you use that information to push for change is up to you.
Differences between critical realism and critical theory
Now, this leads us to another common mix-up: critical realism versus critical theory. They sound similar, right? But they’re actually quite different.
Critical theory, especially as it originated with the Frankfurt School, is all about critiquing and challenging societal structures.
Think of it like a very intense debate club that’s determined to call out injustice wherever they see it. They’re asking, “What’s wrong with society, and how can we fix it?”
Critical realism, on the other hand, is like a detective. It’s more about understanding than critiquing. A detective wants to uncover the hidden forces and dynamics that shape what we see on the surface, but they’re not necessarily interested in changing the system outright. They’re just trying to understand it as fully as possible.
Here’s an example that might help. Let’s say you’re researching economic inequality. A critical theorist might say, “Alright, we need to dismantle the structures that lead to this inequality!” They’re focused on finding the bad guy, so to speak, and bringing them to justice. A critical realist, meanwhile, might approach it differently. They’re not immediately jumping to conclusions; instead, they’re saying, “Okay, let’s look at all the factors at play. How do things like tax policies, educational access, and job markets all interact to create this situation? What’s the relationship between these elements?”
So, the big takeaway here is that critical realism isn’t inherently about critique or change. It’s about understanding the layers and structures at work. You could apply critical realism to just about any topic without ever taking a stand on it; you’re just trying to see the bigger picture.
How critical realism can be used for social critique
Now, I know some of you might be thinking, “But wait, I’ve definitely seen critical realism used to critique social issues.” And you’re right! Just because critical realism itself doesn’t inherently demand a social justice stance doesn’t mean it can’t be used that way.
While critical realism itself doesn’t have a political agenda, it can be a really powerful tool for social critique. If you’re passionate about social justice, critical realism can help you uncover those underlying systemic forces that might not be immediately visible. It allows you to see the social world in layers: the empirical, the actual, and the real. And it’s in that real layer where a lot of those hidden mechanisms and structures that drive inequality, injustice, and other issues can be found.
But here’s the key thing: it’s not critical realism itself that’s calling for change. It’s the researcher’s choice to use what they’ve uncovered to advocate for change. Critical realism gives you the map; it’s up to you what you do with it.
Putting it all together
One last thing I want to touch on is how critical realism can sometimes be misunderstood as taking a particular stance just because it’s associated with social issues. But really, it’s like a set of lenses you put on to see the world in layers. And you get to decide how you interpret what you see through those lenses.
Think of it this way: If you’re looking at a garden, you might first notice the flowers and plants. That’s the empirical level - the stuff you can see. Then you start thinking about the soil, the water, the sunlight - those are the actual things that sustain the plants, even if you don’t see them right away. Finally, you dig even deeper, maybe analysing the pH balance of the soil or the root systems underground. That’s the real layer. And those deeper things influence everything else, even if you don’t notice them immediately.
So, if you were a critical realist studying this garden, you’re not there to say, “Oh, I don’t like these flowers,” or “This soil is terrible.” You’re there to understand how it all fits together, what makes it grow, what sustains it - even what might eventually cause it to wither. And that’s where the power of critical realism lies: it helps you to see those hidden layers, giving you a fuller understanding of the whole system.
Want to dive deeper into paradigms?
Check out my 60-minute express course, Paradigms for Beginners! See below for more details and try the first couple of lessons for free!
This course offers a clear, jargon-free introduction to five key research paradigms: positivism, post-positivism, interpretivism, critical realism, and pragmatism. Designed for PhD students and ambitious masters degree students, this course simplifies complex concepts, helping you to get confident with paradigms.
