Your Choice of Research / Practice Method?

There are four common ontologies / epistemologies by which we undertake research in the academy. If you must study anything in a reliable, consistent and valid way you need a robust research method. Plus, a system of thought behind it. Empiricism, positivism, realism and post-modernism are the go to approaches to research. We also put them into practice in the real world. To simplify the gist of methodology (method) and practice without using technical explanations we take a short cut. Let us look at methods through the lens of a person who has a loved one who is ill.  ailing loved one. Namely, a parent, sibling, cousin, spouse, sweetheart, friend or business partner.

Out of the blue, the love one collapses. An ambulance takes him or her to hospital in a critical medical condition. The doctor has to make important decisions based on the findings or assessments of a surgeon or physician.

First, The Empiricist doctor tells you, looking at scans and blood tests and observations he or she knows from an empirical standpoint (with 98% accuracy) and has made diagnosis X. Your loved one has illness A + B and needs treatment T. (Cf Baron Winston).

Second, The Positivist doctor tells you, by observing the symptoms D,E,F and G (with considerable certainty) your loved one has he or she has the diagnosis N and will administer treatment N. (See Your GP).

Third, The Realist doctor says to you on analysing the tests and observations of symptoms (again with considerable certainty) your loved one has diagnosis H but there may be deeper causes or problems yet to be discovered. (Cf Doctor House).

Fourth, The Post-Modernist will tell you that the disease your loved one suffers with is a ‘social construction.’ And (with considerable certainty) no one knows anything about the condition G, which is a discourse and therefore no diagnosis or prognosis is possible.

Which of these doctors will you take most and least seriously? Or may I ask, which epistemology or ontology do you prefer? Your choice is the research and practice method prefer for your ailing loved one.

Grimot Nane