Teaching Research Methods: Resources for HE Social Sciences Practitioners What is knowledge?

Teaching Research Methods: Resources for HE Social Sciences Practitioners

What is knowledge?


Concepts of Knowledge and Epistemology


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


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


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)



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



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)



Correspondence Theory of Truth

‘Quite simply, something is true if there is agreement with facts’

(Williams and May, 1996: 36)



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)



Coherence Theory of Truth

Many reports of the knowledge agree that it is true and there have been no reports to the

contrary.


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 knowledge2. By naming your source you demonstrate authoritative

knowledge3. By identifying the counter arguments and refuting them

you demonstrate coherence knowledge


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 )

http://teacher.pas.rochester.edu/phy_labs/AppendixE/AppendixE.html


The Scientific MethodFour 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



• 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.



This method is associated with research that is:

QuantitativeEmpirical PositivistDeductive Objective


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)


Interpretivist Approach

QualitativeIdealist InductiveSubjective

The search for meaning rather than the search for truth


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


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?

Documents

Teaching Research Methods: Resources for HE Social Sciences Practitioners What is knowledge?