ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors argue for the importance of being explicit about the choice of philosophies that underpin the research. They define the terms epistemology and ontology and consider different approaches to research methods and outlines the different paradigms that contemporary qualitative researchers often draw upon to guide their philosophical positions, specifically critical social theory, pragmatism, phenomenology, post-modern critical theory and post-structuralism, constructionism and constructivism. A philosophical stance suggests a view of reality and knowledge that in turn informs researcher perspectives, approaches and methods. It also clarifies a set of assumptions that enables researchers to be clear about the reasons they have chosen a particular research design. Constructivism is based upon the notion that reality is a product of one’s own creation. Constructivism suggests that all ‘knowledge is a compilation of human-made constructions’, so constructivists believe that reality is an internal construction where individuals assign meaning to experiences and ideas.
