Concepts of Knowledge Time Based or Traditional Knowledge

Concepts of Knowledge Time Based or Traditional Knowledge • ‘With traditional knowledge the mere passing of time is seen as the basis for making knowledgeable assertions about the world. In surviving the test of time, long-standing ideas or enduring assertions about the world are assumed to be true. ’ (Ruane, 2005: 3) Teaching Research Methods: Resources for HE Social Sciences Practitioners

Concepts of Knowledge Common Sense and Intuition • ‘Common sense uses our personal experiences and the experiences of those we know as the source of “practical” knowledge’ (Ruane, 2005: 8) • Intuition – having a gut feeling Teaching Research Methods: Resources for HE Social Sciences Practitioners

Concepts of Knowledge Pragmatic Theory of Truth • ‘…the American philosopher William James argued for a pragmatic theory of truth, whereby something was true if it was useful and of benefit for it to be true. ’ (Williams and May, 1996: 37) Teaching Research Methods: Resources for HE Social Sciences Practitioners

Concepts of Knowledge Correspondence Theory of Truth • ‘Quite simply, something is true if there is agreement with facts’ (Williams and May, 1996: 36) Teaching Research Methods: Resources for HE Social Sciences Practitioners

Concepts of Knowledge Credential-Based Knowledge: Authoritative Knowledge • With authoritative knowledge, we defer to experts when looking for accurate assertions about the world. In trusting in experts, we are deferring to their credentials and training. We accept as accurate and true that which experts tell us. (Ruane, 2005: 4) Teaching Research Methods: Resources for HE Social Sciences Practitioners

Concepts of Knowledge Coherence Theory of Truth Many reports of the knowledge agree that it is true and there have been no reports to the contrary. Teaching Research Methods: Resources for HE Social Sciences Practitioners