2 Philosophical assumptions

Question 1

Usually, your implicit or explicit philosophical assumptions can best be described as beliefs about (1) Ontology

Answer 1

Ontology is related to your assumptions about the nature of reality. Most researchers conducting qualitative research assume that reality can be observed and experienced from different perspectives, resulting in different accounts of reality, or you might even say ‘different realities’. So most qualitative research is set up to uncover these different perspectives and realities.

Question 2

Usually, your implicit or explicit philosophical assumptions can best be described as beliefs about (2) Epistemology

Answer 2

Epistemology is related to your assumptions about what you believe to know or could know about reality and what you believe is needed to be sure about what you know. Most researchers conducting qualitative research, for example, believe that one should be very open to new and unexpected aspects and also ‘factor in our participants’ context and situation when trying to gain knowledge of the phenomenon we are investigating. Therefore, it is also often assumed that we need to immerse ourselves into the field of our inquiry and get in close contact with our participants.

Question 3

Usually, your implicit or explicit philosophical assumptions can best be described as beliefs about (3) Axiology

Answer 3

Axiology is related to your values in your research. In some approaches to research, it is assumed that the researcher should try to keep distance to the object of research. However, in qualitative research, it is usually assumed that we cannot avoid being highly engaged and involved in our research. Your own values will therefore certainly play a role in your observations and interpretations. Therefore, when you report about your research, you should be open and explicit about your ‘position’ in relation to the topic of your research.

Question 4

Usually, your implicit or explicit philosophical assumptions can best be described as beliefs about (4) Methodology

Answer 4

Methodology is related to what we believe to be a sound method for collecting and analyzing data. For instance, most researchers conducting qualitative research share that we cannot know exactly in advance what scientific propositions (hypotheses) we need to test empirically, and thus our findings are less driven by our prior knowledge and more by what we unexpectedly chance upon in the way of findings. This is what we usually describe as an inductive methodology. And since we do not know in advance exactly what we will discover, the methodology of researchers conducting qualitative research often emerges and further develops throughout the process of conducting the research.