Research Method & Design
Practical Research Methodology
revised from Selected Methods (1999) J. S. Longstaff


Epistemology; Models of Knowledge

An model of knowledge to encompass the scope of processes within practical events might be charactised as a “model of holistic knowing” and defined with four types of 'knowing' and four kinds of cognition. (Heron, 1996, pp. 52-55)

Each of the four types of knowledge begins with a belief that something is true. This belief can become knowledge after sufficient research. Each of these four types of knowledge can be considered part of new knowledge identified in research.

Four types of Belief & Knowledge:

  1. Propositional Belief & Knowledge:
    Believing and knowing that some bit of information, or a concept, is true.

  2. Practical Belief & Knowledge:
    Believing and knowing how to exercise / execute a skill.

  3. Presentational Belief & Knowledge:
    Believing and knowing about the significance of patterns as expressed in graphic, plastic, moving, musical and verbal art-forms.

  4. Experiential Belief & Knowledge:
    Believing and knowing how to imagine and feel the presence of energies, entities, people, places, processes, or things. Unrestricted sensory perception (experience through all of the sensory systems and including emotional sensations and intuition) of the event/topic being researched.


Models of Knowing

The four types of belief & knowledge can function together as described by models of knowing.

“Pyramid Model of Fourfold Knowing”
  1. At the basis of knowledge are experiences with the world, or topic of inquiry.
  2. Presentations of knowledge emerge out of the experiences.
  3. Propositional knowledge is derived (via analyses) from the presentations of experiences.
  4. Practical skills are informed and supported through propositional knowledge.

“Circuit model of fourfold knowing” The pyramid model becomes a cycle:
  1. Practical skills lead to a new, and enriched, experience of the world,
  2. Enriched experiences lead back into deeper, wider, more creative presentations of the patterns of knowledge;
  3. Creative presentations of knowledge encourage more refined, complex, and comprehensive conceptual models within propositional knowing,
  4. Refined propositional knowing which supports more developed and advanced practical skills, (begin cycle again at 1, 2, 3, etc.)