What is knowledge?
Teaching Research Methods: Resources for
HE Social Sciences Practitioners
Concepts of Knowledge and
Epistemology
Teaching Research Methods: Resources for
HE Social Sciences Practitioners
Session Objectives:
By the end of the session you will be able to:
1. Recall the six theories of knowledge
2. Explain ‘the scientific method’
3. Be aware of the differences between
empirical and interpretivist epistemology
Teaching Research Methods: Resources for
HE Social Sciences Practitioners
Concepts of Knowledge
Task – small groups – 15mins
Each group will receive a different concept of
knowledge
Discuss the meaning of the type of knowledge
you have been give.
1. Generate a description in your own words
2. Identify an example of this type of knowledge
3. Be prepared to feedback what you have
understood to the whole group
Teaching Research Methods: Resources for
HE Social Sciences Practitioners
Concepts of Knowledge
Time Based or Traditional Knowledge
‘With traditional knowledge the mere passing of
time is seen as the basis for making
knowledgeable assertions about the world. In
surviving the test of time, long-standing ideas or
enduring assertions about the world are
assumed to be true.’
(Ruane, 2005: 3)
Teaching Research Methods: Resources for
HE Social Sciences Practitioners
Concepts of Knowledge
Common Sense and Intuition
‘Common sense uses our personal experiences
and the experiences of those we know as the
source of “practical” knowledge’
(Ruane, 2005: 8)
Intuition – having a gut feeling
Teaching Research Methods: Resources for
HE Social Sciences Practitioners
Concepts of Knowledge
Pragmatic Theory of Truth
‘…the American philosopher William James
argued for a pragmatic theory of truth, whereby
something was true if it was useful and of
benefit for it to be true.’
(Williams and May, 1996: 37)
Teaching Research Methods: Resources for
HE Social Sciences Practitioners
Concepts of Knowledge
Correspondence Theory of Truth
‘Quite simply, something is true if there is
agreement with facts’
(Williams and May, 1996: 36)
Teaching Research Methods: Resources for
HE Social Sciences Practitioners
Concepts of Knowledge
Credential-Based Knowledge: Authoritative
Knowledge
With authoritative knowledge, we defer to
experts when looking for accurate assertions
about the world. In trusting in experts, we are
deferring to their credentials and training. We
accept as accurate and true that which experts
tell us.
(Ruane, 2005: 4)
Teaching Research Methods: Resources for
HE Social Sciences Practitioners
Concepts of Knowledge
Coherence Theory of Truth
Many reports of the knowledge agree that it is
true and there have been no reports to the
contrary.
Teaching Research Methods: Resources for
HE Social Sciences Practitioners
University Knowledge
•
You need to provide evidence in all your work that
demonstrated three types of knowledge
•
You do this by referencing:
1. By your choice of source e.g. a peer reviewed published
source demonstrates correspondence knowledge
2. By naming your source you demonstrate authoritative
knowledge
3. By identifying the counter arguments and refuting them
you demonstrate coherence knowledge
Teaching Research Methods: Resources for
HE Social Sciences Practitioners
The Scientific Method
The scientific method is the process by which
scientists, collectively and over time, endeavour
to construct an accurate (that is, reliable,
consistent and non-arbitrary) representation of
the world.
(Source http://teacher.pas.rochester.edu/phy_labs/AppendixE/AppendixE.html )
Teaching Research Methods: Resources for
HE Social Sciences Practitioners
The Scientific Method
Four main steps:
1. Developing the problem •
•
Specific
Identify variables
2. Formulating the hypothesis
•
•
Testable
Null hypothesis
3. Gathering the data –
•
•
Qualitative and quantitative methodologies
Reliability and validity
4. Analysing and interpreting results
•
Results
•
Discussion
Teaching Research Methods: Resources for
HE Social Sciences Practitioners
The Scientific Method
• Knowledge gained in this way is seen as
‘proven’
• That it, it has been generated by an
authority (someone with credentials e.g. has
been published) who has proven that the
knowledge or theory corresponds with what
happens in the real world.
Teaching Research Methods: Resources for
HE Social Sciences Practitioners
The Scientific Method
This method is associated with research
that is:
Quantitative
Empirical
Positivist
Deductive
Objective
Teaching Research Methods: Resources for
HE Social Sciences Practitioners
Alternatives to The Scientific Method
Interpretivist Approach
“we cannot know the ‘true’ nature of the object
separate from our perceptions of it’
(Williams and May 1996: 60)
Teaching Research Methods: Resources for
HE Social Sciences Practitioners
Interpretivist Approach
Qualitative
Idealist
Inductive
Subjective
The search for meaning rather than the search
for truth
Teaching Research Methods: Resources for
HE Social Sciences Practitioners
Epistemology
How we know that we know something?
• What it is that makes something knowledge rather
than just an opinion.
• Empiricism vs. Idealism - can you be both?
• Critical Realism – accepts the world as real
(positivist) but is critical of our objectivity due to our
reliance on interpretation
Teaching Research Methods: Resources for
HE Social Sciences Practitioners
Review
• Can you recall the six theories of knowledge?
• Are you able to explain ‘the scientific method’?
• Could you tell the differences between empirical and
interpretivist epistemology?
Teaching Research Methods: Resources for
HE Social Sciences Practitioners