Ontology and Epistemology in Research: Foundations for Scholarly Inquiry
Introduction In scholarly research, particularly at the PhD level, understanding the foundational concepts of ontology and epistemology is critical. These philosophical pillars guide researchers in framing their worldview, determining what constitutes valid knowledge, and selecting appropriate methodologies. Though often interlinked, ontology and epistemology serve distinct roles in the research process and significantly influence the research paradigm. Ontology: The Nature of Reality Ontology refers to the study of being or what exists . In research, it deals with questions about the nature of reality and what can be known about it. Ontological assumptions shape whether a researcher views reality as a single, objective truth (realism) or as multiple, socially constructed realities (relativism or constructivism) (Crotty, 1998). Source: bigspark For instance, realist ontology assumes that phenomena exist independently of human perception. A positivist researcher operatin...