research at epistemological beliefs - towards a reconceptualization

8/14/2019 Research at epistemological beliefs - towards a reconceptualization

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Research at “personal”epistemology

Towards a

reconceptualization

Theo Niessen, Tineke Abma, Guy

Widdershoven, Cees van der

Vleuten, Maastricht University



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Outline

Explanation term “personal”

epistemology

Characterisation research domain at

personal epistemology

Reconceptualization research

domain at personal epistemology



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Personal epistemology

Epistemology

-

What is the nature of knowledge?- How does a person come to know?

“Personal” epistemology



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Characterisation

Linguistically

MethodologicallyOntologically



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Language

The use of nouns:

“Western philosophy insists upon objectivity

of the world: that is, we stand independentof all other things. We define others and

ourselves and the stuff around us (things)

by naming them. Names reify and solidify,

embellishing a sense of identity and

permanence. (Sawadee & Caley, 2003, p.50)



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Language

The dichotomization of our world

“Dichotomous factors oversimplify thereality of individuals’ lives.” (Amstutz,

1999)



Methodology

Many different formats of instruments

Open-ended interviews, structuredinterviews, stimulated recall interviews,

Likert-type questionnaires, use of

vignettes, observations

All take the individual as the belief

determining authority



Methodology

Examples items from the Schommer

(1990) questionnaire:

“Nothing is certain but death and taxes.”

“I don’t like movies with an open ending.”



Ontological characterisation

Realist ontology

-

Epistemologies are just as real as other phenomena (bird, house, tree)

- They are objectively identifiable



Toward a reconceptualization

How do teachers come to know?

They themselves?The students they teach?



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Toward a reconceptualization

“Trying to teach students within a PBLsystem is not that simple. For once being a

relatively inexperienced teacher I have

trouble finding the words to express myself. I

also worry if I am not talking to much?



How does this teacher within thissituation come to know?



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How does a person come to know?

1) Teachers’ experience

2) The ability to find words3) Talking to much

4) Students’ articulateness

5) Students’ social skills



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Conclusions

Epistemology is

relational Epistemology is

indexical

Epistemology is

emergent Epistemology is….

research at epistemological beliefs - towards a reconceptualization

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