Transformative paradigms: Advancing problem-solving methodologies in Social Sciences and Humanities

Masa Sylvester Motadi ORCID iD & Tshedza Tshivhasa Sikhwari ORCID iD  

Issue: Vol. 7 No.3  2026 Article 11 pp.788 – 802
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20267311| Published online 15th April 2026

© 2026 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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This study examines transformative paradigms as catalysts for advancing problem-solving methodologies in the Social Sciences and Humanities. The primary purpose is to assess existing exploratory and confirmatory methods, evaluate their practical effectiveness, and determine how digital technologies, particularly Amazon Web Services (AWS), enhance methodological innovation. A systematic literature review approach was adopted, synthesising 36 peer-reviewed studies published between 2019 and 2024 through thematic analysis using NVivo software. The methodology enabled the identification of emerging trends in methodological pluralism, interdisciplinarity, and digital integration. The findings reveal that transformative research methods grounded in reflexivity, inclusivity, and technological adaptability significantly improve analytical precision and real-world applicability. Interdisciplinary frameworks combining qualitative and quantitative logic were found to foster robust theoretical development and empirical insight. Furthermore, the integration of digital infrastructures, such as cloud-based analytics, has expanded the capacity for large-scale data processing and global collaboration. The study recommends institutionalising methodological pluralism, ethical digital governance, and researcher training in computational literacy to sustain transformative research ecosystems. Overall, the study contributes to scholarly discourse by conceptualising transformation as a multidimensional process encompassing methodological innovation, digital ethics, and interdisciplinary synthesis. The research offers a framework through which social scientists and humanists can respond more effectively to complex societal challenges by embedding technology, ethics, and inclusivity into the core of research practice.

Keywords: Transformative Paradigm, Methodological Innovation, Interdisciplinary Research, Digital Technologies, Reflexive Practice

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Motadi Masa Sylvester is a PhD candidate in Public Administration at North-West University, specialising in Afrocentric Governance of Public Affairs. He holds an MBA Degree.  He is a Research Associate at the University of Venda and serves as the President of the University of Venda Convocation. His work focuses on public sector governance, digital transformation, economic development, and institutional reform in African contexts. Motadi is actively involved in higher-education governance, alumni leadership, and policy discourse at both institutional and national levels.

Dr. Tshedza Tshivhasa Sikhwari is a researcher and lecturer in the Department of Public Affairs at Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), Giyani Campus. He specialises in international politics, local government, developmental state, diplomacy, and public management. Dr Sikhwari holds a PhD in International Politics from the University of Limpopo and has extensive experience in teaching, research, and community engagement across academic and civil society institutions. He is committed to learner-centred and applied teaching approaches that foster critical thinking, professional growth, and student success.

Motadi, Masa Sylvester, and Tshedza Tshivhasa Sikhwari. “Transformative Paradigms: Advancing Problem-Solving Methodologies in Social Sciences and Humanities. ”E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 7, no.3 (2026): 788 – 802. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20267311

© 2026 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Journals. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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