Ontological and Epistemological Foundations of Qualitative Research

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to describe the most relevant features of qualitative research in order to show how, from the Epistemology of the Known Subject perspective I propose, it is necessary to review first the ontological and then the epistemological grounds of this type of inquiry. I begin by following the path that leads from the Epistemology of the Knowing Subject to the Epistemology of the Known Subject, proposed as a new and non exclusive way of knowing. I pass on to describe the primary and secondary characteristics of qualitative research, expressing the need for an ontological rupture. Finally, cognitive interaction and cooperative knowledge construction are considered as two fundamental features in the process of qualitative research grounded on the Epistemology of the Known Subject. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs0902307. https://www.qualitative-research.net/index.php/fqs/article/view/1299

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Ontological and Epistemological Foundations of Qualitative Research ; volume:10 ; number:2 ; day:30 ; month:05 ; year:2009 ; Forum qualitative Sozialforschung ; 10, Heft 2 (30.05.2009)

Contributors, Places and Time

• Creator: Vasilachis de Gialdino, Irene

Further information

• DOI: 10.17169/fqs-10.2.1299
• URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs0902307
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 15.08.2025, 7:21 AM CEST