Ontological and Epistemological Foundations of Qualitative Research: Implications for Social Science Inquiry

Abstract

Qualitative research is widely used in the social sciences to explore human experiences, meanings, and social processes. Despite its widespread application, researchers sometimes employ qualitative methods without fully considering the philosophical assumptions that underpin them. Understanding these assumptions is essential because they shape how reality is conceptualised, how knowledge is produced, and how research is conducted. This article examines the ontological and epistemological foundations of qualitative research and explains how these foundations influence research design and methodological choices in social science inquiry. Ontology refers to assumptions about the nature of reality and what can be known about the social world. In qualitative research, reality is commonly understood as multiple, socially constructed, and shaped through human interaction and context. Epistemology focuses on the nature of knowledge and the processes through which knowledge about the social world is generated. Within interpretivist and constructivist traditions, knowledge is viewed as emerging from the interaction between the researcher and participants rather than as an objective, independent truth. By clarifying these philosophical foundations, the article highlights the importance of aligning research paradigms, methodological approaches, and analytical strategies in qualitative studies. A clear understanding of ontological and epistemological assumptions enables researchers to design coherent qualitative research and strengthens the methodological rigour of social science inquiry.