|Submitted by: Tosif Ur Rehman Baseer Ahmed Bilal Farooq |Submitted to: Dr. Muhammad Arif Saleem |Seminar in Research Methodology How philosophical assumptions (ontological and epistemological) inform/influence a research design (quantitative/qualitative). Please give a descriptive note on various methods available in quantitative and qualitative research designs. Also specify which type of research questions can possibly be addressed with 'a' research method aligned with a research design (quantitative/qualitative). Last evening of 2014 and we were having discussion with old friend of mine who came to Pakistan on short visit from Kenya. He is working on Geographic Information System (Ahmed) Technology and expertise in Agricultural field. He was planning to figure out the causes of recent famine in Thar that causes a death of young children. Lack of rain and food shortage was the major cause identified by the Government Authorities. Being a computer expert, he was of the opinion that in order to figure out the actual cause of famine he will get the rain fall data in Thar, Karachi and Hyderabad. Furthermore he will also check the distance from the main road so that actual cause can be identified. Argument was raised that major victims are young children mostly under 2 years of age. Keeping in view the development and income level of the people living in Thar, it’s impossible to feed their child on powered milk, mother feed could be the main source for their nutrition. Furthermore, it was quite evident from the news clips that most of the children were quite young, (Ahmed, 2014) Another point was highlighted that if famine is the main cause of these deaths then why it is only affecting the children, why not the elder people of the same community. Food supply under relief package was mostly solid food products which, children of such age cannot consume. Such points cause lot of confusion and initiated a debate that was moving from the scientific approach toward the philosophical area whereas, participants have no idea how to address this matter. We, then decided to explore the philosophical assumptions, if they can help in designing the research of such complex nature. A Philosophical Assumption Is the theoretical framework used by researchers to collect, analyze and interpret the data that is collected in a particular field of study. It establishes the background used for coming to conclusions or decision. (Dazeley, Stone, & Images). Philosophical assumptions can be categorize into two categories, namely Ontological and Epistemological assumptions. Ontology and Epistemology are the branches of philosophy through which we can enter into the body of knowledge or how something is right or wrong and why, by knowing something and uses parameters to evaluate that knowing. 1 Philosophical assumptions – Influence on Research Design | Methods in Qualitative & Quantitative Research Design | Research Question