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Epistemological Developmental Theories

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Understanding Chinese Engineering Doctoral Students in U.S. Institutions

Part of the book series: East-West Crosscurrents in Higher Education ((EWCHE))

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Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of current epistemological developmental theories. It starts with a conceptualization of personal epistemology, i.e., asking where personal epistemology is situated in a bigger picture of cognition or the cognitive process.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    According to Perry’s original description, Authority was defined as, “The possessors of the right answers in the Absolute” or “Pretenders to the right answers in the Absolute” (1970, Glossary page).

  2. 2.

    Absolute was defined by Perry as, “The established Order; The Truth, conceived to be the creation and possession of the Deity, or simply to exist, as in a Platonic world of its own; The ultimate Criterion, in respect to which all propositions and acts are either right or wrong” (1970, Glossary page).

  3. 3.

    Multiplicity: “A plurality of ‘answers,’ points of view, or evaluations with respect to similar topics…with the implication that no judgments among opinions can be made” (Perry 1970, Glossary page). Compare Relativism.

  4. 4.

    Relativism: “A plurality of points of view, interpretations… in which the structural properties of contexts and forms allow of various sorts of analysis, comparison and evaluation in Multiplicity” (Perry 1970, Glossary page). Compare Multiplicity.

  5. 5.

    Commitment: “A conscious act”, “An affirmation of personal values or choices in Relativism”, “as distinct from commitment to an unquestioned, or unexamined belief, plan or value” (Perry 1970, Glossary page).

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  1. Graduate School of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Chen Rui-Qiu Bldg, Room 227, 800 Dong Chuan Rd., Shanghai, China

    Jiabin Zhu

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  1. Jiabin Zhu
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Zhu, J. (2017). Epistemological Developmental Theories. In: Understanding Chinese Engineering Doctoral Students in U.S. Institutions. East-West Crosscurrents in Higher Education. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-1136-8_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-1136-8_2

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