Pragmatist Epistemology for Multi-Method Design of Military Capability Concepts

The complex, dynamic and transdisciplinary nature of military capability systems often requires a multi-method approach to facilitate development of new capability concepts. A multi-method approach allows consideration of the social, material and personal aspects of the system and enables allocation of the best method and technique for the specific steps within the modelling process. However, multi-method studies often encounter epistemological challenges. This paper considers these challenges from the perspective a researcher seeking a robust methodology for development of military capability concepts. Although multi-method approaches are extensively practiced, there is often a lack of consistent theoretical frameworks for method selection. There have been a number of attempts to develop such frameworks, which have had varying degrees of success in addressing the issue of paradigm incommensurability in bringing together methods from different ontological and epistemological camps. The pragmatist perspective places a greater significance on the practical usefulness of the selected methods. It allows the practitioner to work with different paradigms while drawing on own experience and expertise. The question of methodological validity then shifts away from ontological consistency to consideration of inference quality, generalisability, use of relevant operational measures and reproducibility. This paper outlines the developments in the epistemological discussion and translates the pragmatist view to military capability concept design.