Is scientific positivism, long the reigning paradigm for research in the social sciences, the `best way' to conduct social research? This is the central question examined in The Paradigm Dialog. Recently three key challenges have appeared - positivism, critical theory and constructivism. All three offer researchers new methodological approaches and all three present fundamental questions that must be addressed. Can research be conducted between paradigms? Are they equally useful in answering questions of applied research? What constitutes good or ethical research in each? These and other significant questions are examined by a multidisciplinary group of leading figures in qualitative research.