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    Ontology: Research Philosophy Ontology: The Researcher's View of The Nature of Reality or Being

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    Safaa Mohamed Abou Khozaima
    Ontology deals with the nature of reality and whether social phenomena exist objectively or are socially constructed. Objectivism views reality as existing independently of human ideas, while subjectivism sees reality as derived from human perception and actions. When determining research methodology, explicitly establishing an ontological stance is important because it guides the choice of epistemology, research approach, strategy, and data collection methods. A dissertation only needs to briefly discuss ontology, such as providing definitions, stating an objectivist or subjectivist view, and explaining how this informs other methodological choices.

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    Ontology: Research Philosophy Ontology: The Researcher's View of The Nature of Reality or Being

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    Safaa Mohamed Abou Khozaima
    131 views3 pages
    Ontology deals with the nature of reality and whether social phenomena exist objectively or are socially constructed. Objectivism views reality as existing independently of human ideas, while subjectivism sees reality as derived from human perception and actions. When determining research methodology, explicitly establishing an ontological stance is important because it guides the choice of epistemology, research approach, strategy, and data collection methods. A dissertation only needs to briefly discuss ontology, such as providing definitions, stating an objectivist or subjectivist view, and explaining how this informs other methodological choices.

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    Ontology

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    Ontology deals with the nature of reality and whether social phenomena exist objectively or are socially constructed. Objectivism views reality as existing independently of human ideas, while subjectivism sees reality as derived from human perception and actions. When determining research methodology, explicitly establishing an ontological stance is important because it guides the choice of epistemology, research approach, strategy, and data collection methods. A dissertation only needs to briefly discuss ontology, such as providing definitions, stating an objectivist or subjectivist view, and explaining how this informs other methodological choices.

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    131 views3 pages

    Ontology: Research Philosophy Ontology: The Researcher's View of The Nature of Reality or Being

    Uploaded by

    Safaa Mohamed Abou Khozaima
    Ontology deals with the nature of reality and whether social phenomena exist objectively or are socially constructed. Objectivism views reality as existing independently of human ideas, while subjectivism sees reality as derived from human perception and actions. When determining research methodology, explicitly establishing an ontological stance is important because it guides the choice of epistemology, research approach, strategy, and data collection methods. A dissertation only needs to briefly discuss ontology, such as providing definitions, stating an objectivist or subjectivist view, and explaining how this informs other methodological choices.

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    Ontology

    Ontology and epistemology are two different ways of viewing the research
    philosophy. Ontology in business research can be defined as “the science or study
    of being”[1] and it deals with the nature of reality. Ontology is a system of belief
    that reflects an interpretation of an individual about what constitutes a fact.
    In other words, ontology is associated with a central question of whether social
    entities need to be perceived as objective or subjective. Accordingly, objectivism
    (or positivism) and subjectivism can be specified as two important aspects of
    ontology.
    Objectivism “portrays the position that social entities exist in reality external to
    social actors concerned with their existence”[2]. Alternatively, objectivism “is an
    ontological position that asserts that social phenomena and their meanings have
    an existence that is independent of social actors”[3].
    Subjectivism (also known as constructionism or interpretivism) on the contrary,
    perceives that social phenomena is created from perceptions and consequent
    actions of those social actors concerned with their existence. Formally,
    constructionism can be defined as “ontological position which asserts that social
    phenomena and their meanings are continually being accomplished by social
    actors”.[4]
    The table below illustrates the ontology of four major research philosophies
    related to business studies:

    Research
    philosophy Ontology: the researcher’s view of the nature of reality or being

    Pragmatism External, multiple, view chosen to best enable answering of research question

    Positivism External, objective and independent of social actors

    Is objective. Exists independently of human thoughts and beliefs or knowledge of their


    Realism existence (realist), but is interpreted through social conditioning (critical realist)

    Interpretivism Socially constructed, subjective, may change, multiple


    Ontology of research philosophies
    Identification of ontology at the start of the research process is critically
    important as it determines the choice of the research design. The figure below
    illustrates the consequent impact of ontology on the choice of research methods via
    epistemology, research approach, research strategy and methods of data
    collection and data analysis.
    Impact of research philosophy on the choice of research method

    Ontology in business studies


    Fortunately, you don’t have to discuss ontology in great depth when writing a
    dissertation in business studies. Several paragraphs to one page will suffice for a
    dissertation on Bachelor’s or Master’s level, whereas you can devote about two
    pages to ontology on a research at a PhD level.
    You can address ontology part of methodology chapter of your dissertation in the
    following manner:
    Firstly, you can provide a formal definition of ontology, followed by explanation
    of ontology in simple terms. See example at the beginning of this page.
    Secondly, you have to specify whether you are adopting objectivism or
    constructivism view. This should be followed by explanation of rationale for your
    choice.
    Thirdly, you have to discuss implications of your ontological choice on the choice
    of epistemology, research approach, and research strategy and data collection
    method.

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