Keystones of research: epistemological and ontological analysis of educational studies

Year 2017, Volume: 6 Issue: 4, 294 - 301, 30.12.2017

Kübra Keser , Dinçay Köksal

Abstract

In educational research, it is vital
for researchers to have an underlying philosophy and to shape their studies in
the borders of a framework. Epistemological and ontological views of the
researchers are the key factors affecting the process of research design.
Researchers’ perceptions about knowledge
and reality are important not only in
shaping their research but also reporting the way they use in their research
paper. Therefore, this study is designed as an in-depth epistemological and
ontological analysis of three selected studies based upon the English Language
Teaching classes. For the analysis part, especially the table (see Appendix) reporting
different research approaches with different epistemological and ontological
views by Guba and Lincoln (1994) were employed. The conclusion drawn from the
analysis of these three studies indicate that researchers conduct their studies
by basing on one framework or theoretical approach, which best suits for the
nature of their research in accordance with the aim of the inquiry.

Keywords

Epistemology, ontology, educational research, research framework

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