Why do scientists studying conservation need to understand the assumptions behind research about people?

Details

Natural scientists are increasingly interested in social research because they recognize that conservation problems are commonly social problems. Interpreting social research requires at least a basic understanding of the discipline’s philosophical principles and theoretical assumptions, which are embedded in research design. Natural scientists who engage in social science without understanding these foundations can misinterpret their results.

The authors developed a conceptual guide to help natural scientists understand the philosophical basis of social science and meaningfully interpret its research outcomes.

The guide describes 3 fundamental elements of research: ontology—what exists in the human world that researchers can acquire knowledge about; epistemology—how knowledge is created; and philosophical perspective—the researcher’s philosophical orientation that guides their actions. Many elements of the guide also apply to the natural sciences.

Natural scientists can use the guide to understand how a researcher’s ontological position can influence the nature of the research; how an epistemological position can support the legitimacy of different types of knowledge; and how philosophical perspective can shape the choice of methods and affect the interpretation, communication, and application of results.

The guide can also support and promote effective integration of the natural and social sciences to generate more insightful and relevant conservation research outcomes.