COMM 2050 Ologies Chart

Meta theories are theories about how theories are made and evaluated. They include questions about ontology, epistemology, axiology and praxeology.

Ologies are aspects of how we know something • exists (ontology) • is true (epistemology) • is good or bad (axiology) • can be used (praxeology)

Researchers from each of the Approaches (Empirical/Scientific, Interpretive, Critical) see the Ologies in different ways. This chart maps them out for you. This will help you understand the difference between the Approaches a little better.

Notice that the Scientific Approach is also referred to as Scientific, Empirical, Objective, Positivistic or Functional, depending which textbook you are reading. We are going to use Scientific in this chart.

Ologies Chart Ontology What is the nature of reality? Scientific Reality is a tangible world, objectively discerned? (realist stance)

Interpretive Reality is just each person’s perception of what is real, made up of our own labels? (nominalist stance)

Critical Reality is constructed by interaction with people, in other words what people agree reality is? Who has the most power to convince others of their reality wins. (social constructionist stance)

Epistemology How do we discover truth? What are ways of knowing? What counts as knowledge of the social communication world? How is that knowledge accumulated?

Scientific I believe there is an unbiased way to learn about communication interactions. I want to find out what I can predict will happen and apply it to all interactions? I would test communication competence through standardized instruments and procedures and look for regularities and causal relationships. (scientific method)

Interpretive I believe it is impossible to learn about communication interactions without being biased. I want to understand each person’s perspective and know my knowledge is local and cannot be applied to all interactions. I would study the interactions by observing those interactions without controlling them. I’d take notes and possibly do in-depth interviews with the those I’m observing. (ethnography)

Critical I believe like the Interpretivist that by observations can’t help but be biased and understanding of a specific communication interaction cannot be applied to all interactions. In addition, I want to know who has the power in the interaction. If the power is imbalanced I want to take action to rebalance it.

Axiology What role should values of the researcher play in research? What is worth knowing?

Scientific I feel I need to leave my own personal values out of communication research but it is not easy.

Interpretive Everything I do reflects my values including what I choose to study in communication and how I observe interactions Critical I am concerned with whose values are given precedent. Some value systems empower certain people and marginalize others. Praxeology What do we do with the research results? How it works? How it is used? What action should we take?

Scientific This knowledge, if applied as I recommend, can make everyone more competent communicators

Interpretive This knowledge can help others understand what is happening in this specific communication interaction

Critical This knowledge can help equalize the power in communication interactions