Instructional Design

Epistemological Development

English Study Program

April 2013

Ways of knowing
So, we have a set of research questions
how do we know the answers to the
questions?
Epistemology: the division of philosophy that
investigates the nature and origin of
knowledge.
Six common forms of human knowledge
acquisition and formation

Low level epistemological methods

Tenacity
Intuition
Authority
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Ways of knowing: Tenacity

Tenacity
The way it has always been.
We accept the answer (knowledge) because
it has survived over time.
Little rigor possible in analysis of the
knowledge
Examples of knowledge via tenacity:
cultural customs, norms, traditions
foods eaten on particular holidays

Way of knowing: Intuition

Intuition
It feels right.
Extra-sensory source, gut feelings, so on
Again, less rigor in the analysis of the
knowledge, because it is not readily
analyzable

Ways of knowing: Authority

Authority
answers, knowledge gained from a trusted
source
burden of analysis is mostly on the credibility
of the source

Ways of knowing: Science

Science: the development of knowledge through
a combination of rationalism and empiricism.
Mind (logic) + Senses (observation)
Rational empirical method: another name for science

Rationalism
Development of knowledge through the application of
the rules of logic

Empiricism
Development and confirmation of knowledge through
the observation of events using human senses
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Ways of knowing: Science (cont.)

Rationalism: knowing through logic
deductive logic:
apply general principles to a case to draw conclusions
syllogism

inductive logic:
from specific case, generalize to principles
Basis for hypothesis testing

analogical logic:
from a specific case, apply to another case
Based on similarities between the cases

casual logic

cause and effect link between events

Three requirements for establishing a causal link (see later)

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Advantage of science over the

other methods of knowing?
able to develop new knowledge, find new
answers, beyond accepting existing answers, by
applying logic
able to verify newly established knowledge by
objectively relying on ones own senses
What is the key difference between Low level
epistemological methods and high level
epistemological method?
Develop vs. Accept

Characteristics of science
Logical
Adherence to the rules of logic

Empirical
Objects/phenomena being investigated should be observable.

Problem oriented
Begins with a problem statement then ends with other problems

Procedure driven
To keep objectivity

Community-Based
Exchange of ideas and procedures

Replicable
This is what a method section is for

Self critiquing
What you do at the end of a study (discussion section)

Evolutionary
Grows day by day

Creative
Revolutionary findings!; beyond the normal application of logic!
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Fundamental Scientific Activities

Theory development
What is theory?
A set of interrelated constructs, definitions, and
propositions that presents a systematic view of
phenomena by specifying relations among
variables, with the purpose of explaining the
phenomena.
Causal statement with boundary conditions

Observation
Observation follows research methods
(survey, experiment, content analysis,
naturalistic observation, etc.)
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Evaluation of Theory
Clarity
Parsimony
Validity
Is it empirically true?

Testability
Scope
How big is it?

Flexibility
Can it adopt to explain new related observations?

Predictability
What can we predict based on this?

Utility
for explanation, generation of new knowledge, prediction, etc.
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Procedures of the scientific method

Problem development
Methodological design
Data collection
Data analysis
Interpretation of findings, generalizing of
principle, developing theories

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A note on causality
Tendency to prove causal relationships
is very strong in science and in life
Need to consider the criteria for causality
Temporal ordering: cause precedes effect in
time
Meaningful correlation: must have a
theoretical foundations for observed
correlations
No competing hypotheses: correlation cannot
be explained by other factors
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A note on causality (cont.)

Exercises in alternative hypotheses

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End of Slides
ANY QUESTION?
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