Ontology

Ontology refers to the study of being (literally, it means “rational discourse about being”). In philosophy, basic questions about existence are typically posed as ontological, e.g.:

● What is there?
● What types of things are there?
● How can we describe existence?
● What kind of categories can things go into?
● Are the categories of existence hierarchical?

This approach to ontology can be considered fundamental in that it underlies our experiences of the world and our beliefs about it. Ontology in philosophy refers to existential matters and questions about the nature of existence. Domain ontology describes concepts and articles relevant to a particular discipline (e.g. a branch of science). Particular domain ontologies can be thought of as arising from 10 philosophical approaches to Ontology but then becoming distinct areas in themselves. (Smith, 2009). This explains how scientific approaches often suspend discussion of more basic ontological questions but they are still underpinned by them. Similarly, Interface ontology describes concepts and articles relevant to
several disciplines, and might be used in interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary research.

So, what’s the point of ontology in educational research? In applied science,nontologies are used to describe the different entities and domains within anparticular system or investigation. Simply put, before we can study a phenomenonnwe need to define it. Within a particular study we focus on the specific thing(s)nunder investigation and how we define the parameters of a study. While mostnresearchers won’t need to engage at length in philosophising about ontology, it’snan important consideration when choosing an approach because it partly determines what constitutes validity in a particular study.