Importance of Epistemology and Ontology in Research Design and Methodology

While conducting research, we need to know what is that we need to find out, what are the aims and what problems the research will address. This refers to problematizing, that means to identify an issue that can be addressed by research. The aims of the research need to be formulated into answerable research questions. The next step is how we will answer our research questions. It should be done by choosing an appropriate methodology. Among all the concepts of research methodology, there two distinctive concepts known as ‘Epistemology’ and ‘Ontology’. These philosophical assumptions or positions are a basic component of any postgraduate research and, as such, need to be clearly set out at the beginning of the methodology chapter. Here, we will define the twin concept of epistemology and ontology and then describe why they are crucial to the research methodology and research design.

Epistemology:

This refers to the assumptions we make about the kind or the nature of knowledge, or how it is possible to find out about the world. For Crotty (1998), this is a way of looking at the world and making sense of it. Bryman (2008) defines epistemology as “an issue concerns the question of what is (or should be) regarded as acceptable knowledge in a discipline”. Furthermore, Manion and Morrison (2007) say that epistemology is about the assumptions which one makes about “the very bases of knowledge – its nature and form, how it can be acquired and how communicated to other human beings”. The Epistemology is about the information that counts as acceptable knowledge and how it should be acquired and interpreted. There two assumptions of epistemology: Positivism and Interpretivism. 

Ontology:

Ontology concerns our beliefs about the kind and nature of reality and the social world. This is the study of ‘being’ and it is concerned with ‘what is’, the nature and existence and structure of reality and what is possible to know about the world. For Richards, (2003), ontology is the assumptions we make about the kind and nature of reality and what exists. Snape and Spencer (2003) also define ontology as the nature of the world and what we can know about it. In other words, ontology is associated with a central question of whether social entities should be perceived as objective or subjective. Accordingly, objectivism or positivism and subjectivism can be specified as two important assumptions of ontology.

Importance of Epistemology and Ontology in Research Design:

All researchers assume a philosophical position either epistemological or ontological and this position paves the way for their chosen methodologies to accumulate findings. The epistemological and ontological assumptions form the bases upon which one’s own thinking about and understanding of the world and its phenomena rest. These assumptions also inform our thinking about and understanding of social research in general and the development of the research methodology and methods which we adopt in the research. Qualitative research method descriptions are likely to benefit from a clearly stated ontological and epistemological position. According to the scholars, research methods cannot be value free in their application because one’s own values will always impact upon research processes. So, it is important for researchers to occupy their chosen position as this refers to how they view and understand themselves in the creation of knowledge, Furthermore, England (1994) and Masschelein (2010) both make compelling case’s highlighting that, ‘with research representing a shared space involving both the researcher and the participant’s, both identities have the potential to impact the research process’.

The process of research came into being due to man’s quest to be at tune with his environment and also understand nature. To achieve this, man uses the tools of experience and reasoning available to him. On the other hand, research methodology simply means a guide to research and how it is conducted. Regarding all of this, the philosophical research position is of vital importance, which we know as ‘Epistemology’ and ‘Ontology’. We can come to the conclusion that, having a clear philosophical research position only enriches the methodologies and designs applied in a particular research area.

- Mahabuba Islam Meem, Department of Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Dhaka.