PRACTICAL RESEARCH 1 NOTES Ontology is just one part of the equation.

Arannelle Faye C. Alas B. EPISTEMOLOGY

- “Episteme” – Knowledge
Topic: Grounding research in philosophy
- “Logos” – Reason
What is Research? - Concerned with how to examine reality.
- A systematic and organized effort to - “Knowledge-ology”
investigate a specific problem that needs a - Asks the questions:
solution. o How do we acquire knowledge
- A way of exploring new ideas or to deepen about the world?
our understanding of things we already o What methods of gaining
know.
knowledge are accepted?
Who conducts research?
For every Ontology, there is a counterpart
- Simply put, research is an extraordinary Epistemology
activity that can be done by anyone.
Ontology Epistemology
How is research conducted? 1. The belief 1. Reality can
that there is be observed,
- Experiments/Clinical Trials one single reality can be
- Analyzing data reality or measured.
- Market analysis truth.
- Surveys/interviews
- Studying old/historical documents 2. The belief 2. Reality needs to be
that there are interpreted; knowledge
What do we need to have to conduct research? multiple can be perceived
realities. differently.
- Knowledge
- Information 3. The belief 3. Reality should be
- Data that reality is studies and examined
constantly using the right tools.
 Ontology interpreted.
 Epistemology
 Methodology
A. ONTOLOGY Ontology + Epistemology = Methodology
- Onto = existence, being real
- Logia = or study Ontology + Epistemology = Paradigm
- Concerned with the nature of reality, of
existence, of “being” itself. C. RESEARCH PARADIGM
- “Reality-ology” - The research paradigm that we get from
- Asks the question “What is reality?” Ontology + Epistemology determines our
Ontologies research approach.
- Broadly, our research approach is our plan
1. The belief that there is one single reality or proposal to conduct research.
or truth.
2. The belief that there are multiple realities. Research Approach
3. The belief that reality is constantly
Involves the intersection of the following:
interpreted.
- Philosophical Worldviews
Ontology is foundational as it is concerned with
- Research Designs
how one sees reality.
- Research Methods
This will have a significant impact in how a person
conducts research. a. Quantitative
 - Used of testing objective theories by 3. PRAGMATISM
examining the relationship among - This worldview arises out of actions,
variables. These variables, in turn, can be situations, and consequences rather than
measures, typically on instruments, so that antecedent conditions.
numbered data can be analyzed using - There is a concern with applications –
statistical procedures. what works – and solutions to problems
- Instead of focusing on methods,
researchers emphasize the research
b. Qualitative problem and question and use all
- Used for exploring and understanding the approaches available to understanding the
meaning individuals or groups ascribe to a problem.
social or human problem. Focuses on - Typically used as the philosophical
individual meaning, and the importance of underpinning for mixed method studies.
reporting the complexity of a situation.
Ontology Epistemology
Reality is constantly Whatever best tools
c. Mixed Methods negotiated available to solve
- Mixed methods research is an approach to the problem
inquiry involving collecting both
quantitative and qualitative data,
integrating the two forms of data. 4. TRANSFORMATIVE
- Arose from individuals who felt that
FOUR PHILOSOPHICAL postpositivist assumptions did not fit
marginalized individuals in our society, or
WORLDVIEWS IN RESEARCH issues of power and social justice,
1. POSITIVISM/POSTPOSITIVISM discrimination, and oppression that needed
- Represents the traditional form of to be addressed.
research. - There is no uniform body of literature for
- Holds true more for quantitative research this worldview, but this includes
than qualitative research. researchers who are critical theorists,
- This worldview is sometimes called the participatory action research, Marxists,
scientific method or doing science feminists, racial and ethnic minorities,
research. persons with disabilities, indigenous and
- Also called empirical science. postcolonial peoples, and members of the
LGBTQIA+ community.
Ontology Epistemology - These inquirers felt that the constructivist
One objective truth Reality can be stance did not go far enough in advocating
measured for an action agenda to help marginalized
peoples.
- A transformative worldview holds that
2. SOCIAL CONSTRUCTIVISM
research inquiry needs to be intertwined
- Typically used in qualitative research.
with politics and a political change agenda
Belief that individuals seek understanding
to confront social oppression at whatever
of the world in which they live and work.
levels it occurs
- Individuals develop subjective meaning to
their experiences. These meaning are
Summary:
varied and multiple.
- Focuses on the complexity of views rather Positivism Constructivism
than narrowing meanings into a few - Determinatio - Understandin
categories or ideas. n, g
- Relies on the views of the participants. reductionism - Multiple
- Empirical meanings
Ontology Epistemology observation - Social and
There are multiple Reality needs to be and historical
realities interpreted measuremen Construction
t - Theory
- Theory Generation
 verification
Transformative Pragmatism
- Political - Consequenc
- Power and es of actions
Justice - Problem-
Oriented centered
- Collaborative - Pluralistic
- Change- - Real-world
oriented practice
oriented