The theory of knowledge, especially with regard to its methods, validity, and scope, and the distinction between justified belief and opinion is referred to as:

Correct option is B

Epistemology is the branch of philosophy concerned with the theory of knowledge, including questions about how we know what we know, what constitutes valid knowledge, and how to distinguish between justified belief and mere opinion.

Information Booster:
• Epistemology addresses fundamental questions: "What is knowledge?" "How is knowledge acquired?" and "What do people know?"
• Key epistemological theories include rationalism (knowledge through reason), empiricism (knowledge through experience), and constructivism
• Epistemology examines the justification of beliefs, criteria for knowledge claims, and sources of knowledge
• In research, epistemological stance influences methodology choices and how researchers approach truth and validity
• Major epistemological debates include the distinction between a priori (independent of experience) and a posteriori (dependent on experience) knowledge
• Epistemology is crucial in research philosophy, determining whether objective truth exists and how it can be accessed

Additional Knowledge:
• (A) Ontology: Concerns the nature of reality and existence (what exists), not the nature of knowledge
• (C) Methodology: Refers to the systematic approach and methods used in research, not the theory of knowledge itself
• (D) Post-positivism: A specific research paradigm that acknowledges reality exists but can only be imperfectly understood, not the general theory of knowledge