2. Research Theory

Question 1

What does ‘Your Philosophy’ involve?

Answer 1

Own unique view on life with own moral code & ideas
How you view the world around you can have an impact on any research you undertake
World of research (epistemology, ontology)

Question 2

Ways of viewing research philosophy

Answer 2

Epistemology

Ontology

Question 3

Define Epistemology

Answer 3

Study of knowledge

Question 4

What does Epistemology look at?

Answer 4

Assumptions about knowledge
What constitutes acceptable, valid & legitimate knowledge
How we can communicate knowledge to others

Question 5

What else does Epistemology involve?

Answer 5

Multidisciplinary context of business & management (different types of knowledge can all be considered to be legitimate)

Question 6

Give examples of legitimate types of knowledge

Answer 6

Numerical data
Textual & visual data
Narratives
Facts
Stories
Interpretations
Functional accounts

Question 7

Describe the relevance of epistemology

Answer 7

More obvious

Question 8

Define Ontology according to Dale

Answer 8

Nature of existence (Dale, 2002)

Question 9

Define Ontology according to Guba & Lincoln

Answer 9

‘What is the form & nature of reality & therefore, what is there that can be known about it?’ (Guba & Lincoln, 1994, p.108)

Question 10

What else does Ontology involve

Answer 10

Study of being alive & existing

Question 11

What does Ontology refer to?

Answer 11

Assumptions about nature of reality

Shapes the way in which you see & study your research objects

Question 12

What does Ontology determine?

Answer 12

How you see the world of business & management

affects your choice of what to research for your research project

Question 13

Ontology business management examples

Answer 13

Artefacts
Organisational events
Working lives
Individuals
Management 
Organisations

Question 14

Other ISMs

Answer 14

Skepticism
Idealism
Objectivism
Subjectivism
Constructivism