Research at “personal”

epistemology

Towards a
reconceptualization

Theo Niessen, Tineke Abma, Guy

Widdershoven, Cees van der
Vleuten, Maastricht University
 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
 Methodologically
 Ontologically

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 Language
 The use of nouns:
“Western philosophy insists upon objectivity
of the world: that is, we stand independent
of 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

 Thedichotomization of our world

“Dichotomous factors oversimplify the
reality of individuals’ lives.” (Amstutz,
1999)

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 Methodology

 Many different formats of instruments

Open-ended interviews, structured
interviews, stimulated recall interviews,
Likert-type questionnaires, use of
vignettes, observations
 All take the individual as the belief
determining authority

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 Methodology

 Examples items from the Schommer

(1990) questionnaire:
“Nothing is certain but death and taxes.”
“I don’t like movies with an open ending.”

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 Ontological characterisation

 Realist ontology
- Epistemologies are just as real as other
phenomena (bird, house, tree)
- They are objectively identifiable

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 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 PBL

system 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?

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 Towards a reconceptualization

At the same time students differ with respect to

their articulateness and knowledge but also
their capacities to connect and work together
with other students. In these circumstances
teaching is hard and always new. It is hard to
adapt my approach to these specific
circumstances each time again.” (I-5)

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How does this teacher within this
situation come to know?
 How does a person come to know?

1) Teachers’ experience
2) The ability to find words
3) 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….

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