I need to add three scholarly citations (i.e. full-text, peer-reviewed scholarly articles no older than 5 years) to the below discussion thread on the four philosophical assumptions of qualitative study and how they can be seen in in the selected research area. I decided to conduct a qualitative study on the experiences of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Explanation:

Philosophical assumptions are the foundational beliefs or theories that researchers have about the nature of the world and how it can be studied. According to Creswell and Poth (2018), there are four main philosophical assumptions that researchers bring into their research: ontology, epistemology, axiology, and methodology.

Ontology refers to the nature of reality or what exists in the world. Epistemology concerns how we can gain knowledge or what is the nature of knowledge. Axiology refers to the role of values and ethics in research. Methodology concerns the techniques and procedures used to conduct research.

For the purpose of this discussion, let us consider the selected research interest area as a qualitative study on the experiences of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

1. Ontology: The ontology assumption can be seen in the selected research area as the belief that reality is subjective and socially constructed. The researchers in the study assume that there are multiple realities and that the experiences of the cancer patients are unique to each individual.
2. Epistemology: The epistemological assumption can be seen in the selected research area as the belief that knowledge is subjective and context-specific. The researchers in the study acknowledge that the experiences of the cancer patients cannot be generalized to all cancer patients, and that the findings of the study are limited to the specific context of the participants.
3. Axiology: The axiological assumption can be seen in the selected research area as the belief that values and ethics play a critical role in research. The researchers in the study ensure that the participants' privacy and confidentiality are protected, and they obtain informed consent before conducting the study.
4. Methodology: The methodological assumption can be seen in the selected research area as the belief that qualitative research methods are best suited to capture the complexity and richness of human experiences. The researchers in the study use interviews and observations to collect data, and they engage in a process of iterative analysis to develop themes and categories from the data.

In summary, the four philosophical assumptions of ontology, epistemology, axiology, and methodology are critical in shaping the design and implementation of research. In the selected research area of a qualitative study on the experiences of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, the assumptions can be seen in the belief in multiple realities, the subjective nature of knowledge, the importance of ethics, and the suitability of qualitative methods.