In the context of psychology, how do ontological positions differ from epistemological positions when considering the implications of empiricism and constructivism in research methodologies?

Ontological positions ask what kinds of things exist, while epistemological positions ask how we can know about them. In psychology, an ontological realist believes that mental states exist independently of our minds, whereas an ontological constructivist holds that these states are created by social and cultural contexts. Empiricism, as an epistemological stance, claims that knowledge comes from sensory experience and objective observation, so researchers use experiments to discover universal patterns. Constructivism, another epistemological stance, argues that knowledge is built through interaction, so studies focus on participants’ interpretations and meanings. For example, a realist empiricist might study memory recall with controlled lab tests, whereas a constructivist might interview people about how they remember events, seeing memory as socially shaped.