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Elements of a Fusionist Ontology: Paradigmatic Choices in Understanding the Reasons for Career Change

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Constructing Methodology for Qualitative Research

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in Education Research Methods ((PSERM))

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Abstract

The past, present, and future are ultimately contiguous. Given that there are multiple realities among individuals, paradigmatic choices can produce a fresh ontology sharpening the focus on past experiences, precursors, and reasons for a career change and how individuals define their present social realities. A “fusionist ontology” suggests experiences can only be explained by means of historical narrative. This is akin to an “atomist view” that there must be some least amount of being that already contains the determinacy that makes “living sensible”. While other forces to come into play, the fusionist ontology provides a purposeful basis for interpretive constructivist grounded theory aimed at understanding the impacts and influences of past experiences and reasons for individual decisions to actively seek a career change.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Education and the Arts, CQUniversity Australia, Rockhampton, QLD, Australia

    Rickie Fisher

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  1. Rickie Fisher
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Education and the Arts, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Australia

    Bobby Harreveld

  2. School of Education and the Arts, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia

    Mike Danaher

  3. North Rockhampton Campus, Central Queensland University, North Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia

    Celeste Lawson

  4. Central Queensland University , Townsville, Queensland, Australia

    Bruce Allen Knight

  5. Central Queensland University, Rockhampton North, Queensland, Australia

    Gillian Busch

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Fisher, R. (2016). Elements of a Fusionist Ontology: Paradigmatic Choices in Understanding the Reasons for Career Change. In: Harreveld, B., Danaher, M., Lawson, C., Knight, B., Busch, G. (eds) Constructing Methodology for Qualitative Research. Palgrave Studies in Education Research Methods. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-59943-8_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-59943-8_7

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  • Print ISBN: 978-1-137-59942-1

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