Heaney, Thomas W.2024-11-222024-11-221981Heaney, T. W. (1981). The ambiguities of education research: Can a rabbit catch the fox? Northern Illinois University.http://192.9.200.215:4000/handle/123456789/243The paper examines the role of paradigms in shaping research methodologies, arguing for a critical reevaluation of empirical methods and proposing alternative frameworks for understanding social realities in adult education. It draws on mathematical theories and interdisciplinary insights to advocate for transformative approaches to research.This paper explores the intersection between mathematical set theory and adult education research, proposing four postulates to underpin a paradigm for liberatory education. The discussion critiques empirical methodologies and emphasizes the paradigm-specific nature of research tools and interpretations. Analogies, such as the tale of Br'er Rabbit and Br'er Fox, illustrate the challenges of understanding world-specific frames in educational research.enAdult EducationResearch ParadigmsSocial ResearchMathematical Analogy in EducationLiberatory EducationWorking Paper