Social ontology Essay Example

Social ontology Essay Example Social ontology Essay Social ontology Essay Ontology is concerned with the nature of the reality to a greater extent than epistemological considerations, this raises questions of the assumptions researchers have about the way the world operates and commitment held to particular views. Questions of social ontology are concerned with the nature of social entities. The central point of orientation here is the question of whether social entities can and should be considered objective entities that have a reality external to social factors or whether they can and should be considered social constructions built up from the perceptions and actions of social actors. (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, 2006, p.108). Objectivism; and Constructivism are examples of ontological positions. Objectivism is an ontological position that asserts that social phenomena and their meanings have an existence that is independent of social actors (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, 2006, p.108).  Constructivism is an ontological position that asserts that social phenomena and their meanings are continually being accomplished by social actors (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, 2006, p.108). EPISTEMOLOGY Epistemology is defined as a branch of philosophy that studies the nature of knowledge and what constitutes acceptable knowledge in a field of study. (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, 2006, p.102). There are primarily two constracting research approaches- Positivist and Interpretivist.  A positivist researcher has a belief that the world conforms to fixed laws of causation; that there is a complexity that can be tackled by reductionism; and that asserts an emphasis on objectivity, measurement, and repeatability. These researchers have both a realist and an objective view of the world. The methodologies most often used by positivist researchers include quantitative analysis, confirmatory analysis, deduction, laboratory experiments, and nomothetic experiments (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, 2006, p.103). An interpretivist researcher believes there is no universal truth. This type of researcher understands and interprets from his/her own frame of reference. He/She believes that uncommitted neutrality is impossible and realism of context is important. These researchers have both a relativist and a subjective view of the world. The methodologies most often used by interpretivist researchers include qualitative analysis, exploratory analysis, induction, field experiments, and idiographic experiments (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, 2006, p.106).  Ã‚  Nomothetic methodology focuses on an examination of regularities and relationship to universal laws, while ideographic approaches centre on reason why indivudual create and interpret their world in a particular way (Putnam, 1983; 41). HUMAN NATURE Assumptions about human nature are deterministic or voluntarist. One views individuals as product of their environment; the other believes individuals create their own environment (Putnam, 1983; 36).  My Ontological are based on constructivism because I think that knowledge is socially constructed. My research is very much interpretivist in terms of epistemology because of the fact that this study is subjective and it might vary from one student to another. My research is Qualitative in nature. 3. RESEARCH STRATEGY Research strategy can be used for explanatory, descriptive and explanatory research (Yin, 2003). As my assumption are based on constructivism and interpretivism so my research is qualitative in nature because it involves analysis and experience of International Students who have been the victim of crime and does it affect them mentally and in their studies? And to those students who have not experienced this but how do they feel even if they think about it and whether they find this country safe or not. The data that I have generated from this study is completely interpretive and not Quantitative in nature. From the constructionist point of view we get all the facts from the people, they are the actual one where anyone can get the truth. Hence, it is meaningful to make this choice. In Quantitative method the researchers:  1) Review conceptual framework and relationships to be studied. 2) Prepare data for analysis.  3) Determine if research involves descriptive analysis or hypothesis testing.  4) Conduct analysis.  5) Evaluate findings to assess whether they are meaningful. (Hair, Money, Samouel and Page, 2007; p.304)  And this is clearly not my area in what I am doing my research on.  There are many approaches to conduct qualitative research, but four of them are widely used which includes Phenomenology, Ethnography, Grounded Theory and Case Study. (Hair, Money, Samouel and Page, 2007; p.289). I used Phenomenology approach in my research strategy as I intend to interpret the experience in relation to those students who have been the victim to crime and to those students who are scared and have not experienced this and I also want to know that how does it affect them mentally and in their studies. When I am doing this research I as a researcher should set aside my feelings and ideas that I have on this issue. PHENOMENOLOGY is a qualitative research method that studies human experiences and consciousness. It is the study of phenomena, or how things appear in our experiences, the way we experience things and therefore the meanings things have in our experiences. Phenomenological studies examine conscious experiences from the first person (interviewer or observer) point of view, ranges from experiences involving perception thoughts, desires, memories, emotions and imagination to bodily awareness and social interactions. These studies sometimes are referred to as lived experiences because they focus on how human behaviour is shaped by relationships with ones physical environment, including objects, people and situations. A specialized field of phenomenology is hermeneutics, which attempts to understand and explain human behaviour based on an analysis of stories people tell about themselves. (Hair, Money, Samouel and Page, 2007; p.289).