Ontology
The philosophical study of the nature of reality and what exists in the world.
What is Ontology?
In research methodology, ontology refers to a researcher's core assumptions about the nature of the reality they are studying. It dictates whether social phenomena exist independently of our knowledge of them (realism) or are socially constructed and dependent on human interpretation (constructivism/relativism).
Why Ontology Matters
Ontological assumptions implicitly drive all subsequent methodological choices. If a researcher believes reality is objective and measurable, they will choose different data collection and analysis tools than a researcher who believes reality is subjective and fluid.
Example
A researcher studying employee burnout with a realist ontology might treat burnout as an objective medical state that can be measured via cortisol levels and survey scales. A researcher with a relativist ontology would view burnout as a socially constructed label, focusing on how employees subjectively interpret and narrate their exhaustion.
Common Mistakes
- Failing to articulate ontological assumptions, assuming one's own view of reality is universally accepted.
- Adopting a methodology (like purely interpretive qualitative methods) that directly contradicts stated ontological beliefs (like strict realism).