COMM3401 - Week 3

Key terms:

• Ontology - The process of knowing something; what is the nature of our reality?

• Epistemology - how do we understand things?

• Axiology - how we value things

General notes:

• As a communication expert it is your job to process a plurality of (frequently contradicting) truths

• Human nature - ontology

  • Interpretivist: Humans are free to choose (free will!)

    • Personal agency

  • Scientist: Human action is determined by external causes

• Epistemology

  • “The more you know, the more you don’t know”

    • The interpretivist: Truth is construct

    • The scientist: Truth is out there, we just have to find it

• Both epistemological & ontological ‘sides' exist on a continuum

• Axiology

  • Values

    • What matters to us? What are important standards?

    • What we hope to gain from our inquiry?

    • Where/how can we make improvements?

  • Interpretivist:

    • Empower/emancipate people

    • Researcher is a part of the problem

  • Scientist:

    • Evidence speaks for itself

    • Social scientist is also biased