Understanding Ontology and Epistemology

Introduction

• Ontology and epistemology are fundamental concepts in sociology and social sciences.
• Ontology answers the question: "What am I looking at?"
• Epistemology answers the question: "How do I go about studying it?"
• The speaker, Dr. Elizabeth Yardley, has 20 years of teaching experience in sociology, criminology, and social policy.

Ontology

Concept Overview

• Think of ontology as the "What?" question.
• It influences the type of research conducted in the social world.

Realist Position

• The social world is like a hotel:
  • Exists independently of individuals (external reality).
  • Unaffected by personal feelings or interpretations.
  • Provides a stable and fixed environment.
  • Objective reality is perceived the same by all.

Idealist Position

• The social world is like a home:
  • Subjective and impacted by individual experiences.
  • Constantly being created and molded; fluid in nature.
  • Multiple realities exist, shaped by personal feelings, interpretations, and prejudices.

Recap of Ontology

• Realism: Fixed, rigid, and unchangeable view of the social world.
• Idealism: Flexible and responsive to people's actions within it.

Epistemology

Concept Overview

• Epistemology is the "How?" question of studying the social world.
• It addresses strategies for generating knowledge about social phenomena.

Positivist Position

• Seeks to explain and identify causes:
  • Approach akin to natural sciences (biology, chemistry, physics).
  • Emphasizes objectivity and value-free research.
  • Uses deductive reasoning to test existing theories.

Interpretivist Position

• Seeks to understand and identify meanings:
  • Focus on the uniqueness of human behavior and the meanings behind actions.
  • Emphasizes empathy and understanding from the individual's perspective.
  • Uses inductive reasoning to generate new theories from observations.

Recap of Epistemology

• Positivism: Objective observer seeking to explain social occurrences.
• Interpretivism: Immersive understanding of social world experiences.

Conclusion

• Ontology = What am I looking at?
• Epistemology = How do I study it?
• The speaker offers additional resources, such as the digital course Theory Boss for mastering social theory and critical analysis in academic work.