Learning Path
Question & Answer1
Understand Question2
Review Options3
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Explore TopicChoose the Best Answer
A
They determine what counts as valid knowledge and how reality is constructed.
B
They only affect the researcher's personal bias without impacting analysis.
C
They are irrelevant to data interpretation and only apply to quantitative research.
D
They simplify the analysis process by providing fixed categories for data.
Understanding the Answer
Let's break down why this is correct
Answer
Epistemology asks how we know what we know, while ontology asks what kinds of things exist and how they exist. In thematic analysis, a realist epistemology and ontology lead analysts to look for themes that reflect real, external patterns in the data, assuming the data reveal something true about the world. A constructivist stance, by contrast, treats themes as co‑created by participants and researchers, so interpretation focuses on how meanings are negotiated rather than on objective truths. For example, a realist might interpret interview statements about “stress” as evidence of a real, measurable phenomenon, whereas a constructivist would explore how participants construct the idea of stress through cultural and personal lenses. Thus, the chosen epistemological and ontological positions shape both what is considered a theme and how that theme is understood.
Detailed Explanation
Epistemology is about how we know things; ontology is about what exists. Other options are incorrect because The idea that these positions only affect personal bias ignores their role in setting the whole framework; These concepts are not limited to quantitative work; they guide how we interpret qualitative data too.
Key Concepts
Thematic Analysis
Epistemology and Ontology
Qualitative Research Methods
Topic
Epistemological and Ontological Positions
Difficulty
easy level question
Cognitive Level
understand
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