Journal Article Analysis---Sheila - Admission/Application Essay Example

Though, there is huge evidence for the significance of the role of epistemology in individuals’ learning process, very few scholars have researched it. Some of these few scholars that have studied about epistemological beliefs are Schommer-Aikins and Hutter. In their article, “Epistemological beliefs and thinking about everyday controversial issues,” they investigated about the relationship between people’s epistemological beliefs and their thinking on the daily controversial issues. Thus, this paper seeks to analyse Schommer and Hutter’s article laying more focus on the philosophical assumptions underlying their research as well as methodology.

Additionally, the paper will also highlight the importance of the assumptions as well as their effect on the research’s applicability. Ultimately, the paper will also focus on other post-positivist thinkers’ arguments on the assumptions and research methodology regarding epistemological beliefs. The idea or rather concept of epistemological is a very vital as far as knowledge building s concerned. From a general definition, epistemology is a branch of philosophy that deal with the common scope and nature of knowledge.

Thus, epistemology can divided into three broad areas. That is, an alternative concept, development concept and a system of personal beliefs. To begin with, alternative concepts generally include the epistemological “resources” and “theories” associated with it. Developmental concept is concerned more with the structure in which people interpret the origins and nature of knowledge, the responsibility and the logical process it takes. Additionally, developmental concept focuses more on the ways of knowing, reflective judgement and epistemological reflection.

On the other hand, epistemology as a system of beliefs includes a set of beliefs that are more or less independent (Miller & Tsang, 2011). Though the viewpoints of