Introduction

This chapter provides an introduction and overview to this book. The chapter defines key terms used throughout the book and outlines core philosophical foundations of research, including ontology, epistemology, paradigm, and methodology. It discusses the distinctions among these terms and examines how these underlying core beliefs drive the theories and methods researchers gravitate toward in their research. It also sets the foundation to explore how theories and methods are used to make sense of the findings of research and make claims about what those findings mean in the larger context. Finally, this chapter provides some examples of how to reflect on ontological, epistemological, and paradigmatic views, as well as some discussion of positionality and racial and cultural considerations in research.