Any topic (writer’s choice)

Video 1: Moerman, Gerben (2016). 1.1 On elephants (Qualitative Methods: Philosophy of Qualitative
Research: University of Amsterdam. Posted on YouTube on 11-09-2016. Duration 00.10.07).
Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9EtzjhJNA0
Question 1: Thinking about the story told by Jan Van Der Ploeg and recounted by Gerben
Moerman, What happened in reality? In other words, what are all the different explanations
given for the destruction of the crops?

Video 2: Moerman, Gerben (2016). 1.2 Ontology for social actors (Qualitative Methods: Philosophy of
Qualitative Research: University of Amsterdam. Posted on YouTube on 11-09-2016. Duration
00.06.45). Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlUKGRYYZEw
Question 2a: What are the two types of ontology described and what is the difference?
Question 2b: Are you an objectivist/realist, or are you a constructivist?1 Why?

Video 3: Moerman, Gerben (2016). 1.3 Ontology for social researchers (Qualitative Methods:
Philosophy of Qualitative Research: University of Amsterdam. Posted on YouTube on 11-09-2016.
Duration 00.04.38). Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHmvMtc_Ybg
Question 3: Why is it important to consider ontology for researchers?

Video 4: Moerman, Gerben (2016). 1.4 Epistemology (Qualitative Methods: Philosophy of Qualitative
Research: University of Amsterdam. Posted on YouTube on 11-09-2016. Duration 00.08.42).
Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfhORwlRB4Q
Question 4a: Are you a positivist or an interpretivist? Why?
Question 4b: Why does positivism often have a negative connotation in qualitative research
to the extent that calling someone a positivist can be a criticism?2