Models of epistemic and ontological cognition: a new perspective of occupational therapy education

Epistemic and ontological cognition (EOC) involve beliefs about knowledge and knowing. These include beliefs about the certainty and complexity of knowledge and the means of justifying knowledge, for example, through authority figures or personal experience. Research has shown that these beliefs can influence learning and achievement, and that they may be specific to a particular domain. The EOC that define a particular health profession and influence its production, acceptance, and use of knowledge have been termed practice epistemology. Despite the importance of its practice epistemology, little research has been done related to EOC in occupational therapy. This paper describes models of EOC as a basis for understanding their implications for occupational therapy epistemology, education, and practice.