Ways of Knowing – Navigating the Epistemological Maze

The Department of Statistics and Data Science, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Pune Lavasa Campus, organised a Research Methodology Workshop titled “Ways of Knowing – Navigating the Epistemological Maze” on 16 September 2026 at the Smart Room, Central Block. The session was organised as part of the Economics Research Series and was aligned with ECO405-7L – Research Methods in Economics and ECO406-7L – Research Writing. The workshop brought together staff and students with an interest in understanding the foundations of research and the processes through which knowledge is constructed in Economics. The session was led by Dr Crystal David John, Former Head and Associate Professor in Economics, Stella Maris College, Chennai, who brought extensive academic and research experience in Economics, research methodology, gender and development, feminist economics, sustainable development, and social-sector research. With experience in teaching, research, academic mentoring, research supervision, and scholarly evaluation, Dr Crystal David John provided students with an interdisciplinary perspective on undertaking meaningful and rigorous economic research.

The workshop focused on an important yet often challenging dimension of research: epistemology and the ways in which knowledge is understood, justified, and created. The discussion introduced participants to the epistemological foundations of research and encouraged them to look beyond research methods as merely a set of technical tools. By situating methodology within broader questions about knowledge and reality, the session helped students understand why researchers make particular methodological choices and how these choices influence the way research questions are approached. A key focus of the session was the relationship between research questions, methodology, methods, and evidence. Participants were encouraged to examine how a clearly formulated research problem provides the foundation for selecting an appropriate research approach and methods. The discussion also highlighted the importance of ensuring coherence between what a researcher seeks to understand, the assumptions underlying the inquiry, the evidence collected, and the methods used to analyse it.

The workshop was particularly relevant for Fourth-Year Honours and Honours with Research students, as well as students preparing to undertake independent research in Economics. The session provided a conceptual foundation that can support students in developing research proposals, identifying suitable approaches to economic problems, and strengthening their academic writing. The workshop formed part of the department’s broader efforts to foster a research-oriented academic culture and encourage students to engage critically with economic questions. By exploring different ways of knowing and understanding the foundations of research, the session encouraged participants to approach research not simply as a process of collecting and analysing data, but as a systematic inquiry grounded in questions of knowledge, evidence, interpretation, and methodological choice.

The session concluded with participants gaining greater conceptual clarity on epistemology and its relevance to economic research. The workshop served as a meaningful academic engagement for students as they prepare to formulate research problems, develop research proposals, and undertake independent research and writing.The Department of Statistics and Data Science acknowledges the contribution of Dr Crystal David John for facilitating the session and thanks the faculty members, student coordinators, and participants for their support and active engagement in making the Economics Research Series a platform for sustained research learning and academic inquiry.