ontology

Categories: Site glossary

the area of philosophy that deals with the nature of things, what exists, the status of things (e.g., real, imaginary), typologies

an ontology refers to a way of understanding what exits in the world (e.g., the distinction between matter and energy; or that matter may be single substances or mixtures; of how species are understood)

an ontology – categorising different kinds of things (cf. typology)

an ontological stance is part of any research paradigm

Read about ontology

Read about paradigms

Author: Keith

Former school and college science teacher, teacher educator, research supervisor, and research methods lecturer. Emeritus Professor of Science Education at the University of Cambridge.