Chapter 3: Epistemology

The word epistemology derives from Greek word ‘episteme’ which means ‘knowledge’. Conceptually epistemology is understood as the theory of knowledge and justification. Epistemology cannot proceed without the considerable reflection on the mental phenomena, and it is all about understanding knowledge but not understanding reality. 

Any researchers approach and orientation to his/her subjects is shaped by his/ her ontological and epistemological position. The patterns of choice of topic, methodology and the expectations of what research will achieve are wedded to a researchers’ understanding of reality and understanding of knowledge.

The general categorization of epistemology has been given below: -

1. Objectivism 
2. Constructionism
3. Subjectivism

Furthermore, the study of nature, origin, and limits of human knowledge is also referred to as the theory pf knowledge which falls within the conceptual framework of epistemology.

While understanding the idea of epistemology we also need to address the idea of theoretical perspectives as well. theoretical perspectives are the philosophical orientation of the researcher that basically guides his/her research. And it can inform the methodology, methods of data collection, analysis, and interpretation of the findings. 

It provides a framework for understanding the phenomena and to shape the research questions. There are various types of theoretical perspectives which came with the alignment of the base of the epistemological ground taken by a researcher for conducting research. They are as follows: -

• Positivism.
• Post positivism.
• Structuralism.
• Post – structuralism.
• Interpretivism / constructivism.
• Critical theory.
• Post – modernism.
• Pragmatism.
• Feminism.

These different types of perspectives are determined and selected by a researcher as per the need and rationale of the research. The selection of these theoretical perspectives do varies by being based on the objectivism of subjectivism manifestation of a research.