Abstract

Concept formulation and ontology development are problematic to achieve in complex social settings. Previously, we have proposed and illustrated a method to develop an ontology based on grounded theory, whereby the ontology is linked to the social processes involved. Further, distinct actors in the social setting assume perspectives that are often fundamentally different from each other. We have previously argued that perspectivism is a cogent theoretical explanation for the different emergent ontologies. However, a rigorous method for analysing the text, in order to identify these perspectives has been needed. In this paper we propose the identification of perspectives by using discourse analysis to bridge between term identification and clarification of perspectives. We have found that discourse analysis provides the structure and rigour required to establish the presence of perspectives, and that actors use metaphors and the genre of historical stories to bridge between, or link with, other perspectives. It is likely that identifying perspectives and the role of language in linking them will produce ontological modularity that is true to the social setting.

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