FRHD 3070 MIDTERM 1 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
Ontology
a branch of philosophy concerned with the nature of reality
Objectivists
believe that there is one objective reality
ex. a persons height
- can be observed/measured
concept of masculinity
- objectivists would say everyone can measure it and its the same
Constructionists
believe that there is not objective reality, only interpretations
ex. a persons height
- height on earth, or in space, or what is is perceived to be.
the concept of masculinity
- interested in what people think masculinity is and how thy interpret it in their life and
others trying to understand the complex ways people understand the concept
Epistemology
,a branch of philosophy concerned with how knowledge is acquired
there a 3 primary epistemologies
- positivism
- interpretivism
- critical approaches
positivism
- comes from the natural sciences
- knowledge is gained from observation by the senses
- hypotheses are generated and tested
- facts are gathered to develop scientific laws
- science is UNbiased, it doesn't matter who the researcher is, everyone will get the
same answer
- related to objectivist ontology
ex. use of surveys to determine prevalence of disabilities in the US and Canada
interpretivism
- knowledge is gained by understanding the meanings of peoples' actions
, - gathering lived experiences
- understand how people interpret their own actions
- understand how people interpret the actions of other people
- understand how peoples' interpretations affect their behaviour's
- related to the constructionist ontology
ex. Interview occupational therapy educators about their experiences supporting
people with disabilities
critical approaches
- argue that social research should be done with the goal of opposing oppressions
- a variety of methods are used (positivist and/or interpretivist)
- used by feminist researchers, anti-poverty research, queer studies, indigenous
research, anti-racism research
- critical approaches are action oriented
ex. critical disability studies unpacking systemic ableism challenging misconceptions
calling for creation of inclusive environments
CORRECT ANSWERS
Ontology
a branch of philosophy concerned with the nature of reality
Objectivists
believe that there is one objective reality
ex. a persons height
- can be observed/measured
concept of masculinity
- objectivists would say everyone can measure it and its the same
Constructionists
believe that there is not objective reality, only interpretations
ex. a persons height
- height on earth, or in space, or what is is perceived to be.
the concept of masculinity
- interested in what people think masculinity is and how thy interpret it in their life and
others trying to understand the complex ways people understand the concept
Epistemology
,a branch of philosophy concerned with how knowledge is acquired
there a 3 primary epistemologies
- positivism
- interpretivism
- critical approaches
positivism
- comes from the natural sciences
- knowledge is gained from observation by the senses
- hypotheses are generated and tested
- facts are gathered to develop scientific laws
- science is UNbiased, it doesn't matter who the researcher is, everyone will get the
same answer
- related to objectivist ontology
ex. use of surveys to determine prevalence of disabilities in the US and Canada
interpretivism
- knowledge is gained by understanding the meanings of peoples' actions
, - gathering lived experiences
- understand how people interpret their own actions
- understand how people interpret the actions of other people
- understand how peoples' interpretations affect their behaviour's
- related to the constructionist ontology
ex. Interview occupational therapy educators about their experiences supporting
people with disabilities
critical approaches
- argue that social research should be done with the goal of opposing oppressions
- a variety of methods are used (positivist and/or interpretivist)
- used by feminist researchers, anti-poverty research, queer studies, indigenous
research, anti-racism research
- critical approaches are action oriented
ex. critical disability studies unpacking systemic ableism challenging misconceptions
calling for creation of inclusive environments
