Philosophy of Research

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Philosophy of Research

• Epistemology vs. Ontology

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EPISTEMOLOGY

• What is (or should be) regarded as acceptable
  knowledge in a discipline?
• Can (should) the social world be studied
  according to the same principles as the natural
  sciences?
• If the answer is YES, the research follows the
  doctrine of the natural science epistemology
  Positivism (and also Realism)
• If the answer is NO, the research follows the
  opposite to positivism doctrine Interpretivism

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ONTOLOGY

• Can (should) social entities be considered
  objective entities
• If the answer is YES the research takes a
  position of Objectivism (social phenomena
  confront us as external independent and
  objective facts)
• or are they social constructions
• If the answer is NO the research takes a
  position of Constructionism (Constructivism)
  social phenomena and their meanings are
  continually being accomplished by social actors
  the phenomena are not only produced through
  social interactions, but they are in a constant
  state of revision

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• Three epistemological positions
• Positivism, (2) Realism (3) Interpretivism

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(1) Positivism

• Research philosophy used by the natural sciences
• The researcher an objective analyst of the
  external world the end product of the research
  are law-like generalizations
• Makes detached interpretations about the data
  that have been collected in an objective manner
• the researcher is independent of the subject of
  the research
• the researcher does not affect the subject of the
  research
• the researcher is not affected by the subject of
  the research
• Focus on
• highly structured methodology and methods (e.g.,
  questionnaires) to facilitate replication
• observations can be quantified this permits
  statistical analysis

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(2) Realism

• Shares two features with Positivism
• A belief that the natural and social sciences
  should apply the same kind of approach to the
  collection of data and to explanation
• A view that there is an external reality which is
  separate from our description of it
• Realism is an attempt by some researchers in
  social sciences to adjust Positivism to studies
  of social phenomena
• In particular, it allows for inclusion into their
  explanations of theoretical terms that sometimes
  cannot be observed
• It also recognizes that people cannot be studied
  in the style of natural sciences that it is
  important to understand how people think and
  interpret things, to take context (e.g., time and
  place) into account

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(3) Interpretivism

• Opposite to Positivism
• Argues that the social world of business and
  management is too complex and unique for the
  traditional natural sciences approaches
• Therefore, it cannot be generalized it depends
  on particular sets of circumstances and
  individuals
• It is the role of interpretivists to seek to
  understand the subjective reality of those that
  they study
• to understand their motives, actions, and
  intentions

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Ontological considerations

• Objectivism vs. Constructionism (also known as
  Constructivism)
• (1) Objectivism an ontological position that
  implies that social phenomena confront us as
  external facts that are beyond our reach or
  influence
• For example, an organization has rules and
  regulations standarized procedures for getting
  things done there is a hierarchy mission
  statement individuals have to conform to these
  rules they do jobs to which they are appointed
  they are told what to do and they tell others
  what to do otherwise, they may be reprimanded or
  even fired

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• (2)Constructionism (Constructivism)
• An ontological position that asserts that social
  phenomena and their meanings are continually
  being accomplished by social actors
• It implies that social phenomena and categories
  are not only produced through social interactions
  but they are in a constant state of revision
• For example, in some organizations rules are less
  extensive and less rigorously imposed than in
  other classic organizations
• They are not commands but rather general
  understandings the outcome are agreed-upon
  patterns of action in different situations that
  are the product of negotiations among the
  different parties involved
• The social order is in a constant state of change
  (e.g., in a hospital, everyday interactions may
  be more important than the official rules)

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Links between Epistemology and Ontology

• Epistemological orientation of Positivism is most
  likely linked to Ontological orientation of
  Objectivism (and Realism)
• Interpretivism is usually linked to
  Constructionism
• Research strategies (emerge from the above)
• Quantitative research strategy (usually linked to
  Positivism and Objectivism/Realism and to
  Deductive Research)
• Qualitative research strategy (usually linked to
  Interpretivism and Constructionism and to either
  Inductive Research or Grounded Theory)