When you begin writing your PhD you'll need to get to grips with some academic language. Your degree title is a Doctorate in Philosophy and this suggests that a minimum requirement is that you are conversant with the philosophy of research. In particular, you need to get on top of three very important concepts.
Methodology ... to do with the tools and techniques of research
Ontology ... to do with our assumptions about how the world is made up and the nature of things
Epistemology ... to do with our beliefs about how one might discover knowledge about the world
Whilst there are some philosophical traditions that problematise these concepts, most research students need to articulate their position in relation to each term individually and collectively ... even if it is simply to refute the need to do so because you are subscribing to a view of the research process which denies our ability to subdivide in this way.
These three words form relationships to each other in that your epistemological and ontological positions should have some bearing on the methods that you select for your research. In the social sciences getting on top of these individual concepts and their relationship(s) to each other is vital if you want to (a) be able to write articulately for publication and (b) want to avoid social gaffes in your viva. There are several great books that set the territory out for you and many PhD programmes include smaller taught elements that cover this material. If you haven't done it yet, get hold of one of the following books and begin your journey into the murky realms of the social science research debates.
Some helpful reading might include ...
Crotty, M. (1998) The Foundations of Social Research: meaning and perspective in the research process, Sage Publications, London
Burrell, G. and Morgan, G. (1979) Sociological paradigms and organisational analysis: Elements of the sociology of corporate life. Heinemann: London
Whereas, the following journal article offers a masterly overview of the terms in relation to the field of management research ...
Tranfield, D. & Starkey, K. (1998) ‘The Nature, Social Organisation and Promotion of Management Research: towards policy,’ British Journal of Management, Volume 9, Number 4, pp 341-353.
If you can read and follow the Tranfield and Starkey paper you're making progress and you should follow up some of the references it cites. If it reads as a foreign language then you've got some work still to do.
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I personally found the Crotty text very helpful. Interesting perspectives and extremely readable. More than I can say about Mssrs Tranfield and Starkey. Okay Okay - I get the hint. Off to do some more work so that these particular words of wisdom can be appreciated!
ReplyDeleteI am doing a PhD research about collaborative learning and multiliteracies. Actually, I am bit hazy about ontology of my research.
ReplyDeleteCould you give me some hints helping me to understand more?
VU PhD student
There is a difference between being hazy about the concept of ontology and your research having a hazy view of the ontological position that you adopt. The former just needs a bit of further reading and work ... the latter is a much bigger hurdle and, for me, would need you to make a decision, take a position and work forward from that point. Mixed methods I quite like. Mixed ontologies and/or mixed epistemologies don't tend to easily fit within the same PhD
ReplyDeleteI subscribed to a relativist ontology for my research and now near the end have now been told relativism is the kiss of death for any thesis - can anyone point me in the right direction for support of relativism so I can be sure I can defend this position strongly enough in my viva?
ReplyDeleteThe only kiss of death is inconsistency ... if you buy the relativist argument stick with it and pick an external examiner who sympathises.
ReplyDeleteI have created my dissertation (2008) on symbolic analysis, for program comprehension.
ReplyDeleteIn it symbols of the program with their relations form the ontology. Epistemology is the approach how to understand relations with the proper context like familiarization or troubleshooting.
Methodology is a set of theories how to implement different kind of analysis. Below methodology there is a set of specific practical methods.
What is important: there is the paradigm level, too. Different kinds of paradigms are static and dynamic and symbolic analyses.
I am into a theory course in a BA(hons) on my way (hopefully) to a doctorate in creative writing, and testing these waters...want to suggest a research hierarchy that goes philosophy, epistemology, ontology, theory, methodology, methods...where the thesis/work is traced/connected to greater or lesser extents through all.
ReplyDeleteI am so happy to discover this blog as I slave in isolation over my D Phil, way down south in South Africa. Discovered it while trying to refine the distinction between epistemology and ontology. I am researching adolescent literacy practices, using Multiliteracies and New Literacy Studies as framework for qualitative analysis, and Systemic Functional Linguistics for close analysis of text samples across IM, Facebook, email, text messaging and formal writing. Would love to see more useful and encouraging contributions.
ReplyDeletewell your Po$t is good and i really like it :). . .awesome WORK . . .KEEP SHARING. .;)
ReplyDeleteresearch methodology
I too found the Crotty text very useful to understand just what that fuzzy notion of methodology was all about. To understand that we need to be looking at epistemology, theoretical perspectives, methodologies and methods was very helpful indeed.
ReplyDeleteI didn't use Crotty's model in the end as I wanted to focus on ontology and axiology as well as epistemology, but it was a crucial iterative step in the process of defining my reseach design chapter.
I'll have a look at the Tranfield & Starkey paper now, thanks for the reference.
It seems that Crotty is classifying under epistemology what are essentially ontological views: objectivism/subjectivism (he even describes objectivism as the "view that things exist as meaningful entities independently of consciousness and experience" p. 5). this description has to do with the way the world is made i.e. ontology, and not about knowledge acquisition i.e epistemology.
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI have tried to get the Tranfield article through UOP (where I am a DM doctoral student) and our public library. Through ProQuest, I can only get the abstract. Through Wiley Library online, I would have to pay $35.00 fee to access the article. Is there a way I can get the article without paying the fee? Any assistance is greatly appreciated! My email is CrystalDavis777@yahoo.com. I was able to get the editorial done on the article!
Thanks!
i need help. in clear examples please tell me about Methodology, Ontology and Epistemology
ReplyDeleteI have read but am not every confident when it comes to expalining those terms
Sarah ... the posting above was my best attempt to explain them. Confidence comes from gradually figuring out which is which. It took me a couple of decades so cut yourself some slack
ReplyDeleteI am so happy to have found this blog! I have just started looking at all these research terms ontology, epistemology, theoritical & conceptual framework. It just makes me feel good that I am not alone in this.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Finding this blog was really liberating. I spent countless hours trying to understand ontology, epistemology and methodology with more and more confusion. This blog has unlocked the key. I now can see the light. @ Sarah, if you google "crotty ppt", you should be able to find a powerpoint which is pretty straight forward.
ReplyDeleteSarah, below is the link to the PPT I told you about.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.darleenopfer.com/File/Research_Perspective_overview_slides_2008-2009.ppt
Thanks
I am a creative writing PhD candidate and I am thoroughly confused by this notion of methodology. Does that mean which area of theory I choose to align my argument with?
ReplyDeleteI'd suggest that you read a couple of the texts recommended. Methodology isn't inherently about alignment with the theoretical focus of your thesis ... although there are undoubtedly some bodies of theory that more closely align with some methods. Rather, methodology is the decsription of the tools and techniques that you will use during an enquiry process that engages with some body of theory that you have selected.
ReplyDeleteI am doing a PhD on analysing strategy formulation in emerging markets in africa. i am really battling crystallizing on my research philosophy and and methodology starting from ontology and epistemology. I have read cecile badenhorts book the journey which was a good ice breaker , any recommendations for the next step.Help!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI have found this blog very useful as I have just started my Phd programme and despite reading various books, I still found terminologies such epistemology, ontology and methodology to be like chinese to me. I am sure other Phd students who are confused as I was will find the blog very useful. I will inform them about it. Thanks to the person who came up with such an idea. Cheers.
ReplyDeleteWhoever it was that is still troubled but trying to study strategy formulation in African markets ... Try reading the three recommended texts listed for this posting ... These are the ones that helped shape my thinking. It also helps to meet other academics ... Think about going to a conference for example, or read some very different strategy articles and see if you can explain the differences in the oldies.
ReplyDeleteGood luck
I was struggling with ontological and epistemological concepts. Some sources describe it as an either/or approach but you have provided clarity. I have found that Ritchie and Lewis (2003) Qualitative Research Practice: a guide for social science students and researchers. Sage:London. I have also found Crotty to be readable. Thanks
ReplyDeleteI am doing a Ph.D research using action research method. How can I select a theoretical framework for this method?
ReplyDeleteIf you're doing a PhD via action research you're on your way to sorting out your methodological stance. These are related to but separate from your theoretical angle or framework. For example, I've done action research using business process theories (basically from systems theory), from complexity theory, learning theory and dialogue theory. Matching your theory to your phenomena of interest is the thing you'll need to do ... thereafter, you need to account for the way in which you understand knowledge ... e.g. your philosophy of knowledge using the terms in this post or one of the other ways of thinking it through.
ReplyDeleteGood luck
i want to know i can do phd on management. I have done Masters degree in Labour Management.
ReplyDeletePlease advise.
mohan
Mohan
DeleteI'm pretty sure that you'll be able to do a PhD in Management ... as a subject, it tends to draw on such a diverse range of root disciplines that most people can find a niche for themselves. My own background was in engineering for example. Look at the other posts on the site for some advice on writing a good proposal and recruiting a good supervisor.
Good luck
Thank you Robert MacIntosh!!! Like those before me in this blog, I find it very useful to read your comments and advice. I am enrolled in a PhD programme and my area of research is teacher professional development, classroom practice and their influence on teacher professional identity. I have two questions: Should I state my ontology before my epistemology? and sould I regard professional development, classroom practice and teacher identity as my ontology and narrative inquiry as my epistemology given that my paradigm is interpretivist? Thank you
ReplyDeleteThanks for the feedback ... ontology and epistemology are closely interlinked ... a good exposition of the two in my own field is Ann Cunliffe's article on Social Poetics in the Journal of Management Inquiry 11(2) 2002 128-146. However, I think you may be mixing your professional identity and research methods up with your ontology and epistemology respectively. Keep reading ... the muddy waters gradually clear out in my experience
DeleteReally glad I have found this blog. I have been struggling with the meanings of ontology and epistemology with my Masters in Counselling and am somewhat cheered (but no closer to understanding these meanings) by reading that people doing PHDs are also still unsure. Is there a simple way of finding out what these words mean please? I ahve looked at the Crotty link but am still unclear.
ReplyDeleteThere are a number of other sources that offer definitions of ontology and epistemology ... my own attempt at simple definitions are offered in the posting above. I'd have a look through some of the research methods or philosophy of research texts in your own area (i.e. counselling) since these may be more helpful than the management research ones that I am familiar with. If you find something that is more helpful to you perhaps you could post it back onto the site. Good luck
ReplyDelete