Migración y Globalización

In order to conduct coherent research it is important to consider ontology, epistemology and methodology, and to have a commitment to certain

assumptions within these metaphysical beliefs. These beliefs shape the way a researcher sees the world (Denzin & Lincoln 2005 p. 6), and will influence how a research project is directed (Finlay 2006 p. 9). An articulation of an ontological, epistemological and methodological position is a paradigm, and has been defined as, “a distillation of what we think about the world (but

can’t prove)” (Lincoln & Guba 1985 p. 15). Another description defines a

paradigm as a theoretical perspective or philosophical stance that provides the researcher with a set of beliefs about the world that are used to guide research (Holloway 2005 p. 294).

Even a beginner researcher will have some philosophical assumptions regarding the nature of reality, how knowledge of reality is learnt or discovered, and what approaches are most appropriate to discover this knowledge of reality (Racher & Robinson 2003, Travers 2001). Aspiring researchers have been advised to make an informed choice of an ontological and epistemological position, and to make explicit both the position chosen, and the way that position shapes and informs the methodology and methods used in the study (Holloway & Todres 2003).

This documented ontological and epistemological position should underpin the research project, providing a coherent and consistent approach to the choice of methodology, methods and analysis (Holloway & Todres 2003, Weaver & Olson 2006). Clark (1998) asserted there had been a tendency in nursing and the wider scientific community to fail to articulate or debate the philosophical underpinning of their research. This leads to evaluators of the published research making assumptions inferred in the paper regarding the philosophical position, which may not be correct.

The following section will discuss ontological, epistemological and

methodological positions. This discussion will conclude with an explication of the paradigm supporting this study, which will help identify the appropriate research methods, assist in data collection, inform the analysis, as well as underpin any claims made by the study.

4.3.1 Ontology

Ontology is the study of our conceptions of reality; the nature of our social world, the character of our being (Brown 2010 p. 128). It is a philosophy that questions our social world, what objects are in it, and how we and the

objects interact (Finlay 2006 p. 261). Ontological viewpoints can be seen as a continuum, with realist grounding one end and relativist the other (Brown 2010 p. 131).

A realist maintains the world is made up of objects and structures which exist independently of our perceptions of them, relating directly in a cause and effect relationship to each other. A realistic standpoint holds it is possible to know the objective reality that is the world we occupy. The opposite end of the continuum, relativism, conversely asserts all knowledge is based in our perceptions, and says all perceptions are of equal value. A relativist makes no distinction between what is and what is not, merely what we think of it; the knowledge of our world can only be obtained through personal perception and linguistics (Brown 2010 p. 131, Finlay 2006 p. 20).

4.3.2 Epistemology

Epistemology is the branch of philosophy that studies the nature of knowledge and belief (Brown 2010 p. 131). This field has focused on

analysing the nature of knowledge and how it relates to the ideas of truth and belief. It also deals with the means of creation of knowledge. Epistemology can be said to primarily address questions such as, ‘What is knowledge?’,

know?’ (Thompson 2003 p. 12). Denzin and Lincoln (2005 p. 22) add a

further question, ‘What is the relationship between the inquirer and the

known?’

The epistemological positions have been described by Lincoln et al. (2011)

as positivist, postpositivist, interpretivist/constructivist and critical theories. They acknowledge some blurring of the boundaries between these positions, with elements inherent within a position found interwoven with others

(Lincoln et al. 2011 p. 97).

The positivist assumption asserts is it is possible to describe the world objectively; that all knowledge is measurable. Traditionally most scientific research took a positivist position (Whittemore 1999). The positivist researcher assumes there is a comparatively simple relationship between the object under investigation and the way it is perceived by the researcher. Nature is explained by testing a hypothesis in a controlled environment while manipulating any variables, in order to know the truth about the

phenomenon. This truth becomes part of universal law and can be generalised in identical or similar environments (Poole & Jones 1996).

The randomised controlled studies investigating the safety and efficacy of new pharmacological agents, and the studies exploring pain pathway physiology are largely underpinned by a positivist epistemological position (Whittemore 1999). Positivism may not be consistent with the complex environment within which nursing practice is performed (Seers et al. 2004),

(Weaver & Olson 2006). Positivism supports the Cartesian dualist concept of the separateness of mind and body and positions the investigator outside of the research process (Clark 1998). Conversely constructivists, see the role of the researcher as being a key element of the data created; they are part of the world they are studying.

Post positivism arose from an increasing awareness of the limitations of positivism (Weaver & Olson 2006). This position recognises the difficulty in gaining a definitive knowledge of the truth about objects, and asserts the truth can be assumed from the data (Lincoln et al. 2011 p. 98). From this

perspective it is possible to have real transferable knowledge of the world, that it is the role of scientific enterprise to describe and document reality, within the boundaries of these presumptions (Finlay 2006 p. 18). Post positivism recognises the influences the investigator has on the subject under investigation with certainty no longer attainable (Whittemore 1999). The positivist and postpositivist philosophical position is contrasted by that of constructivism, which says reality is a conceptual construction and our view of the world is built from our experiences. Proponents of this position believe research should investigate how individuals construct the meaning of their world (Brown 2010 p. 133). It draws attention to the way our perceptions and experiences are influenced by society, culture, history and language. Any findings from data inform researchers regarding both the object of the study, and of their own expectations and cultural behaviours towards the object. In this way any understandings obtained through the research process remain dependant on the context in which the research was

performed rather than being generalisable to a larger population (Gibbs 2007 p. 17, Savage 2006).

While the medical model with its positivist epistemological position

dominated early nursing research (Weaver & Olson 2006), this philosophical position with the emphasis on studies which attempt to control all variables, may not be useful in contemporary nursing research because the complex context influenced environment ensures variables are difficult to control (Clark 1998, Seers et al. 2004).