Answer to Question #182287 in Political Science for Sylvia Kesewaa Peprah

Question

This essay provides you with an opportunity to describe your ontological and epistemological preferences and convictions. What are your ontological and epistemological stances? Why do you favor one way of knowing over others and what implications does this (will this) have on your choice of methodological focus in the execution of a future research?

Answer 1

Ontological stance entails what kind of things do exist in the communal world and conventions about the nature and form of that societal reality. Whereas, the epistemological stance is concentrating on the nature of ways and knowledge of learning and knowing of that societal reality. 

There are two major viewpoints for knowing namely interpretivism and positivism. I prefer positivism as a way of knowing. Notably, positivism follows the standpoint that only factual information acquired through observation that is senses plus measurement is valid and reliable. Therefore, the role of a positivist researcher is restricted to data collection and explanation in an objective manner leading to valid and reliable study findings.