Assignment 1
Yara Langeveld (2760223) - MPA - MSTS
Questions:
- What is good about this text?
→ The author makes clear what the link is between the concepts “paradigm” and “social
construction of knowledge”, because it is very easy to understand how the social construction of
knowledge influences the paradigm that is prevalent in a society. The examples are easy to follow
and well explained.
- What is unclear or needs further explanation?
→ The author does not explain how multiple paradigms can coexist clearly and neither when
clearly when a paradigm comes to an end. The concept of “revolution” is not even mentioned.
- What else needs to be said/addressed/added?
→ Maybe the author could have added a real-life example of the concepts mentioned and how
they are linked, such as a personal example. This is stimulated by the course lecturers and could
make the concepts more tangible.
- Can you provide other examples to illustrate these concepts?
→ Social construction of knowledge: The knowledge, values and priorities someone has depend
on their context, so as an example someone grows up in the countryside, while another grows up
in the city. The person from the city will have different knowledge, values and priorities than the
person from the countryside, for instance in eating habits. In the countryside, someone could
value growing their own food, while this is less common in the city. Moreover, someone from the
countryside can value peace and quiet, while someone from the city thrives in a busy
environment.
→ Paradigm: The most popular example of a paradigm is that of the evolution theory, as many
people believe we descended from the monkeys and evolution can make species adapt. However,
there are also other paradigms, as some people believe that God has created life. Therefore,
paradigms can coexist.
- Can you draw links with other concepts?
→ These concepts can be connected to the concept “positivism”, because this concept bases
knowledge on empirical facts, so what can be observed and perceived and therefore proven.
Therefore, positivists construct knowledge based on their social context, which links to social
construction of knowledge. Also, positivists are part of a specific paradigm.
- Do you agree with the author? Why or why not?
→ I do agree with the author, because there is a clear link between the concepts and the
examples given. A paradigm namely exists because people in the same social circle have the same
kind of knowledge construction.
Yara Langeveld (2760223) - MPA - MSTS
Questions:
- What is good about this text?
→ The author makes clear what the link is between the concepts “paradigm” and “social
construction of knowledge”, because it is very easy to understand how the social construction of
knowledge influences the paradigm that is prevalent in a society. The examples are easy to follow
and well explained.
- What is unclear or needs further explanation?
→ The author does not explain how multiple paradigms can coexist clearly and neither when
clearly when a paradigm comes to an end. The concept of “revolution” is not even mentioned.
- What else needs to be said/addressed/added?
→ Maybe the author could have added a real-life example of the concepts mentioned and how
they are linked, such as a personal example. This is stimulated by the course lecturers and could
make the concepts more tangible.
- Can you provide other examples to illustrate these concepts?
→ Social construction of knowledge: The knowledge, values and priorities someone has depend
on their context, so as an example someone grows up in the countryside, while another grows up
in the city. The person from the city will have different knowledge, values and priorities than the
person from the countryside, for instance in eating habits. In the countryside, someone could
value growing their own food, while this is less common in the city. Moreover, someone from the
countryside can value peace and quiet, while someone from the city thrives in a busy
environment.
→ Paradigm: The most popular example of a paradigm is that of the evolution theory, as many
people believe we descended from the monkeys and evolution can make species adapt. However,
there are also other paradigms, as some people believe that God has created life. Therefore,
paradigms can coexist.
- Can you draw links with other concepts?
→ These concepts can be connected to the concept “positivism”, because this concept bases
knowledge on empirical facts, so what can be observed and perceived and therefore proven.
Therefore, positivists construct knowledge based on their social context, which links to social
construction of knowledge. Also, positivists are part of a specific paradigm.
- Do you agree with the author? Why or why not?
→ I do agree with the author, because there is a clear link between the concepts and the
examples given. A paradigm namely exists because people in the same social circle have the same
kind of knowledge construction.
