Examining Your Epistemology Dr. Chase Young

Cunningham, J. W., & Fitzgerald, J. (1996). Epistemology and reading. Reading Research Quarterly, 31,

e·pis·te·mol·o·gy iˌpistəˈmäləjē Noun PHILOSOPHY the theory of knowledge, especially with regard to its methods, validity, and scope. Epistemology is the investigation of what distinguishes justified belief from opinion.

Three Main Concerns 1.What constitutes or counts as knowledge? 2.Where is knowledge located? 3.How is knowledge attained?

Examining Your Epistemological Beliefs

Can we have knowledge of a single reality which is independent of the knower? If Yes: R If No: P, RE, H, SC, PS, PM

Examining Your Epistemological Beliefs Is there such a thing as truth? If Yes: RE, H, R, SC, PS If No: P, PM

Examining Your Epistemological Beliefs What primary test must proposed knowledge pass in order to be true? If Correspondence: RE If Coherence: RE, H, SC If Pragmatic: P, H, SC, PS, PM

Examining Your Epistemological Beliefs Is knowledge primarily universal or particular? If Universal: H, R, SC If Particular: P, RE, PS, PM

Examining Your Epistemological Beliefs Where is knowledge located relative to the knower? If Outside: P, RE If Between: H, R If Inside: R If Monism: SC If Pluralism: PS, PM

Examining Your Epistemological Beliefs What are the relative contributions of sense data and mental activity to knowing? If Sense Data: P, RE, H If Mental Activity: SC, PS, PM Mix of Both: R

Examining Your Epistemological Beliefs To what degree is knowledge discovered versus created? If Discovered: P, RE, H, R If Created: SC, PS, PM

Examining Your Epistemological Beliefs Calculate the Most Salient and Secondary Responses

Theories of Knowledge in Five Clusters P = positivism RE = radical empiricism H = hypothetico- deductivism/formalism R = realism/essentialism SC = structuralism/ contextualism PS = poststructuralism PM = postmodernism

Your Epistemological “Horoscope”

Examining Existing Models of Reading

Examining The Interactive Model Can we have knowledge of a single reality which is independent of the knower? Yes and no Is there such a thing as truth? Yes: RE, H, R, SC, PS What primary test must proposed knowledge pass in order to be true? Correspondence: RE Is knowledge primarily universal or particular? Universal: H, R, SC Where is knowledge located relative to the knower? Between: H, R What are the relative contributions of sense data and mental activity to knowing? Sense Data: P, RE, H To what degree is knowledge discovered versus created? Discovered: P, RE, H, R

Examining The Interactive Model hypothetico- deductivism/formalism realism/essentialism

Examining The Transactional Model Can we have knowledge of a single reality which is independent of the knower? No: P, RE, HF, SC, PS, PM Is there such a thing as truth? No and Yes What primary test must proposed knowledge pass in order to be true? Coherence: RE, H, SC Is knowledge primarily universal or particular? Universal: H, R, SC Where is knowledge located relative to the knower? Monism: SC What are the relative contributions of sense data and mental activity to knowing? Mental Activity: SC, PS, PM To what degree is knowledge discovered versus created? Created: SC, PS, PM

Examining The Transactional Model structuralism/ contextualism Poststructuralism/postmodernism?

Three Main Concerns 1.What constitutes or counts as knowledge? Can we have knowledge of a single reality which is independent of the knower? Is there such a thing as truth? What primary test must proposed knowledge pass in order to be true? Is knowledge primarily universal or particular? 2.Where is knowledge located? Where is knowledge located relative to the knower? 3.How is knowledge attained? What are the relative contributions of sense data and mental activity to knowing? To what degree is knowledge discovered versus created?

Richer Understanding Evaluating Models of Reading Emphasis of Models Determine Epistemology of Self and Others Instructional Implications Research Implications