Ontology

Formal Definitions

Definition #1 - A theory of the view on reality. What is the nature of physical and social reality? - Bergman, et al.
Definition #2 - Answers the questions: What is real? What is the nature of reality? - Varpio and MacLeod
Definition #3 - Ontology is the starting point of all research, after which one’s epistemological and methodological positions logically follow. A dictionary definition of the term may describe it as the image of social reality upon which a theory is based. Norman Blaikie offers a fuller definition, suggesting that ontological claims are ‘claims and assumptions that are made about the nature of social reality, claims about what exists, what it looks like, what units make it up and how these units interact with each other. In short, ontological assumptions are concerned with what we believe constitutes social reality’ - Grix

Bergman, E., Feijte, J. de, Frambach, J., Godefrooij, M., Slootweg, I., Stalmeijer, R., & Zwet, J. van der. (2012). A Guide to Research Paradigms Relevant to Medical Education. Academic Medicine.
Varpio, L., & MacLeod, A. (2020). Philosophy of Science Series: Harnessing the Multidisciplinary Edge Effect by Exploring Paradigms, Ontologies, Epistemologies, Axiologies, and Methodologies. Academic Medicine, 95(5), 686–689. https://doi.org/10.1097/acm.0000000000003142.
Grix, J. (2002). Introducing Students to the Generic Terminology of Social Research. Politics, 22(3), 175–186. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9256.00173