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Methodology chapters and methods sections are commonly expected to state a position on ontology and epistemology, yet these terms are among the most frequent sources of confusion for researchers who are new to research philosophy. This article defines each term in plain language, contrasting realism with relativism as ontological positions and positivism with interpretivism as epistemological positions, and indicating where pragmatism fits. A single classroom example and a comparative table illustrate the distinction.

The article then shows how the two positions combine to shape a coherent research design, and analyzes a published statement of ontology from a master's thesis as a model for students' own writing. It is suited to research-methods and research-philosophy courses at master's and doctoral level. The article is the formal edition of a piece first published by Grad Coach and is released under CC BY 4.0.

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