Social constructionism accepts that there is an objective reality. It is concerned with how knowledge is constructed and understood. It has therefore
an epistemological
not an ontological perspective. … It regards the social practices people engage in as the focus of enquiry.
Is constructivism an epistemology?
While constructivists deny the possibility of knowledge of the real world, they do not deny the existence of the world itself. In this sense, it is an
epistemological
rather than an ontological thesis. … We can have no direct or unmediated knowledge of any external or objective reality.
Social constructionists
acknowledge the social nature of human life
, while at the same time it encourages individuals to tell their own stories. These underlying assumptions of social constructionism form the epistemological basis for the present study.
Social constructionism emphasizes
theories about reality constructed through social conventions
and supposes facts generated through shared discourse about those conventions. As a research method, social constructionism is concerned with the nature and construction of knowledge.
Social constructivism is
a sociological theory of knowledge according to
which human development is socially situated and knowledge is constructed through interaction with others. Like social constructionism, social constructivism states that people work together to construct artifacts.
What is meant by epistemology?
Epistemology,
the philosophical study of the nature, origin, and limits of human knowledge
. The term is derived from the Greek epistēmē (“knowledge”) and logos (“reason”), and accordingly the field is sometimes referred to as the theory of knowledge.
How do you explain epistemology?
Epistemology is the theory of knowledge. It is
concerned with the mind’s relation to reality
. … It requires considering the different psychological routes to knowledge, including different processes of reasoning – logical and scientific – introspection, perception, memory, testimony and intuition.
What is co constructivist epistemology?
Constructivist epistemology is
an epistemological perspective in philosophy about the nature of scientific knowledge
. Constructivists maintain that scientific knowledge is constructed by scientists and not discovered from the world.
Is realism an epistemology?
Epistemological realism is
a philosophical position
, a subcategory of objectivism, holding that what can be known about an object exists independently of one’s mind. It is opposed to epistemological idealism.
What are the types of epistemology?
Epistemology has many branches that include
essentialism, historical perspective, perennialsm, progressivism, empiricism, idealism, rationalism, constructivism
etc.
A major focus of social constructionism is
to uncover the ways in which individuals and groups participate in the construction of their perceived social reality
. It involves looking at the ways social phenomena are developed, institutionalized, known, and made into tradition by humans.
The main criticisms levelled against social constructionism can be summarised by its perceived conceptualisation of realism and relativism. It is accused of
being anti-realist
, in denying that knowledge is a direct perception of reality (Craib 1997).
Examples. Some examples of social constructs are
countries and money
. It is easier to see how countries could be social constructs than it is to see how money is a social construct. Countries would not exist were it not for human interaction.
- Attention and the Flipped Classroom. …
- Retention: Peers Teaching Peers and Peer Coaching. …
- Imitation through Real Plays. …
- Reinforcement and Motivation through Simulation and Gamification.
What are the four characteristics of constructivism?
- Knowledge is constructed. …
- People learn to learn, as they learn. …
- Learning is an active process. …
- Learning is a social activity. …
- Learning is contextual. …
- Knowledge is personal. …
- Learning exists in the mind. …
- Motivation is key to learning.
- Encourage team working and collaboration.
- Promote discussion or debates.
- Set up study groups for peer learning.
- Allocate a small proportion of grades for peer assessment and train students in the process and criteria.
- Show students models of good practice in essay writing and project work.
