Ontology and epistemology in research - They're not as complex as they sound!

Ontology and epistemology can be challenging concepts to understand, especially for postgraduate students in sociology, criminology, or criminal justice. These concepts are essential for any research project, but they can be difficult to grasp without proper guidance.

In this video, I aim to demystify ontology and epistemology for postgraduate students by providing relatable examples and practical advice. I will be discussing what ontology and epistemology are, why they are important for research, and how they relate to different research methods.

Ontology refers to the study of existence and reality. It deals with questions about what exists, how things exist, and what is real. Epistemology, on the other hand, is the study of knowledge and how we come to know things. It deals with questions about how we acquire knowledge, what counts as evidence, and how we can be certain about what we know.

In the first part of the video, I will be discussing what ontology and epistemology are and why they are important for postgraduate research. This will include an overview of the key concepts and their relevance to different research methods.

Next, I will be providing practical examples of ontology and epistemology in action. This will include discussing how different research methods, such as quantitative and qualitative methods, are influenced by ontological and epistemological assumptions.

Finally, I will be providing tips and advice for postgraduate students on how to navigate ontology and epistemology in their own research projects. This will include strategies for selecting appropriate research methods based on ontological and epistemological assumptions, as well as tips for addressing these concepts in research proposals and dissertations.

By the end of this video, postgraduate students in sociology, criminology, or criminal justice programs will have a clear understanding of what ontology and epistemology are, why they are important for research, and how to apply these concepts in their own research projects. This will enable them to produce high-quality research that is grounded in sound ontological and epistemological principles

Chapters
0:00 - 1:08 Introduction
1:09 - 4:35 Ontology
4:36 - 7:21 Epistemology
7:22 - 8:14 Summary

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[DegreeDoctor]

If you want a quick reference guide to ontology and epistemology, grab my free cheat sheet at the following link:


NOTE: The video refers to "idealism", which is represented in the cheat sheet as "social constructivism".

[iainmccallum]

Thanks for taking the time to do this Elizabeth. I have watched a number of videos on this subject and I found yours to be the most clear, concise and comprehensive of the whole lot. You have a new subscriber.

[DearProfessorRF]

This is the clearest explanation I have found of these two concepts. All these years have been pure mental torture trying to understand them, but I was determined to overcome the confusion.

[pauljohnson]

This an excellent video. The explanatory part is perfectly classic explanation from your intro with its classic parts through to your summary. The best part - the value added - was how seamlessly you linked your bonafides with your subscription ask - absolutely the best I've seen yet and I've watched a lot of videos. I hope you find this encouraging!

[snusardetbasta]

Just had a class on this, I was completely lost. After watching ur video, it's so much clear. Thank you so much!

[normanriley]

Doing a PhD in sociology, got a MA in soc research methods and started working as a GTA couple years back. Genuinely struggle to understand these two still now. This is excellent, I'll be passing it onto students next academic year. Nice one!

[kbxljng]

Thank you very much for this video. I am now ready for my test on the 4th of April. Much love from South Africa

[favour]

this is fab...the best explanation on the planet

[tonyraymond]

Thank you! After spending hours reading journal articles, I found this video which made everything make more sense!

[tgnm]

You've given a pretty clear explanation. Many thanks

[gadihelephetoe]

Thank you so much for this video!! After hours of reading up on these topics I finally understand what each means

[christinaaugustin]

Thanks so much, I wish you were my lecturer!

[waela]

Thank you very much for the useful information. Great video 👍🏻

[margaridadinissaldanhadaga]

Thank you so much for this clear explanation. It will be very useful for my PhD project!

[opizlji]

Thankyou so much, I was feeling really confused on this and you have explained it so well.

[kellyodonnell]

This is great! I know what they mean but can never use them in papers. Thank you very much.

[ragoo]

helpful video, very interesting and educational

[DearProfessorRF]

Now what I need to understand is how they are used as adverbs like when describing something as ontological or epistemological.

[Loualg]

Thanks for this. Are a relativist and idealist approach the same?

[thecandyman]

How does one juxtapose technology against epistemology?