As You Begin Your Research Process You Will Come Across New

As You Begin Your Research Process You Will Come Across New Terms And

As you begin your research process, you will come across new terms and concepts that seem unique to research—in fact, they may seem like another language. When learning a new language, reference materials, such as a dictionary or grammar book, are always important to have close at hand. The Walden Library provides a helpful reference tool called The SAGE Encyclopedia of Social Science Research Methods to guide you through the language acquisition of research terminology and concepts. (While encyclopedias are useful in certain instances such as this, it is important to remember that citing them in your coursework, KAMs, dissertations, or thesis is not appropriate.)

In this Discussion, you will use this resource, along with your text and video segments, to work with the philosophies of science and research approaches. To prepare for this Discussion: Review the following terms in The SAGE Encyclopedia of Social Science Research Methods: paradigm, epistemology, and ontology. Review Creswell's definitions of worldview, paradigms, epistemologies, and ontologies on page 6 of the course text, Research Design. Review the definitions that Dr. Patton offers for epistemology and ontology in the "Research Design" media segment. Review the definition of philosophy of science in the Learning Resources. Review Chapters 1 and 2 in the course text, A Primer in Theory Construction. Be attentive to the development of a scientific body of knowledge and paradigms.

Determine how you would define these terms: philosophy of science, paradigm, epistemology, and ontology. Note that defining philosophy of science is different from asking you about your personal philosophy of your discipline, such as your philosophy of education, or your philosophy of management. Consider the difference between these terms.

Why is it important for a researcher to be familiar with these terms? With these thoughts in mind: Post the following in 2 -- 3 paragraphs: Your definitions of the following terms: philosophy of science, paradigm, epistemology, and ontology. Note that defining philosophy of science is different from asking you about your personal philosophy of your discipline, such as your philosophy of education, or your philosophy of management. The distinction between and among these terms. An explanation of why these terms are important for researchers to know. Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the reading(s) and/or media segment(s) and use APA format.

Paper For Above instruction

The philosophy of science encompasses the foundational principles and assumptions that underpin scientific inquiry, providing a systematic framework for understanding how knowledge is acquired, validated, and interpreted within a scientific domain (Chakravarti & Nair, 2009). It seeks to clarify the nature and scope of scientific knowledge, and it often informs the development of research methodologies and approaches. Unlike one’s personal philosophy of a discipline, which reflects individual beliefs and values, the philosophy of science is centered on the collective criteria and assumptions that guide scientific practice across a field (Guba, 1990).

A paradigm represents a comprehensive worldview that shapes how researchers conceptualize phenomena, formulate questions, and interpret data (Kuhn, 1962). It serves as a set of accepted practices, theories, and standards that define what is legitimate within a scientific community. An epistemology refers to the manner in which knowledge is acquired, justified, and understood, focusing on the nature and sources of knowledge itself (Patton, 2002). For example, positivist epistemology emphasizes empirical, observable evidence, whereas constructivist epistemology values subjective experience and social constructs (Creswell, 2014). Ontology deals with the nature of reality and what exists, guiding researchers’ assumptions about the entities and phenomena they investigate (Guba & Lincoln, 1994). It questions whether reality is objective and independent or socially constructed and subjective.

Understanding these terms is crucial for researchers because they shape research questions, influence methodological choices, and impact how findings are interpreted. Familiarity with the philosophy of science allows researchers to align their approach with the appropriate paradigm, ensuring consistency and coherence in their work (Creswell, 2014). Additionally, knowledge of epistemology and ontology helps researchers clarify their underlying assumptions about the nature of knowledge and reality, which guides data collection and analysis strategies. Overall, these fundamental concepts foster rigorous, valid, and meaningful research that advances scientific knowledge and theory in social sciences and related disciplines (Lincoln & Guba, 1985). As Creswell (2014) asserts, understanding these philosophical foundations equips researchers to critically evaluate existing studies and contribute effectively to scholarly conversations.

References

• Chakravarti, S., & Nair, P. K. (2009). The philosophy of science. Journal of the Indian Academy of Applied Psychology, 35(1), 115–121.
• Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (4th ed.). Sage.
• Guba, E. G. (1990). The paradigm dialog. Sage.
• Guba, E. G., & Lincoln, Y. S. (1994). Competing paradigms in qualitative research. In N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), Handbook of qualitative research (pp. 105–117). Sage.
• Kuhn, T. S. (1962). The structure of scientific revolutions. University of Chicago Press.
• Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. Sage.
• Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative research & evaluation methods (3rd ed.). Sage.