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Reflections on Methodological Issues
Citation
Corbett, M and Kember, D, Reflections on Methodological Issues, Structuring the Thesis: Matching Method, Paradigm, Theories and Findings, Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd, D Kember, M Corbett (ed), Singapore, pp. 389-407. ISBN 978-981-13-0510-8 (2018) [Research Book Chapter]
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DOI: doi:10.1007/978-981-13-0511-5_39
Abstract
The book contains an extensive set of chapters which explain why a
research student’s thesis has used a structure differing from the conventional one
developed to suit the scientific method. The researchers explain how their findings,
methodological approaches, paradigmatic leanings and the theories utilised guided
their alternative structures. A common characteristic is that none of the research
students use the scientific method, which is why the conventional structure was
unsuitable. In this chapter, we reflect on the scientific method to see why it is
unsuited to social science research (and indeed not adopted by much scientific
research) and the alternative directions which have been taken. We define the
scientific method as a linear positivist approach which proceeds from a well-defined
question or hypothesis, substantiated by a literature survey, which is then tested.
The problem with this positivist approach for the social sciences is that research in
these disciplines deals with complex ill-defined issues, which are often so messy
that research students find it difficult initially to formulate research questions. Their
research, therefore, takes the form of a voyage of discovery. Interpretive researchers
recognised the limitations of the scientific method and moved towards more naturalistic forms of research. In the early stages, at least, this tended to imply
movement from quantitative to qualitative research. The chapters in the book
suggest that over time there has been a degree of shift in interpretive research
aiming to derive novel theory, grounded in the data, to interpret a limited case.
Many of the researchers in this collection interpret their results in terms of
well-established theories.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Research Book Chapter |
|---|---|
| Research Division: | Education |
| Research Group: | Education Systems |
| Research Field: | Higher Education |
| Objective Division: | Education and Training |
| Objective Group: | Learner and Learning |
| Objective Field: | Learner and Learning Processes |
| Author: | Corbett, M (Professor Michael Corbett) |
| Author: | Kember, D (Professor David Kember) |
| ID Code: | 128754 |
| Year Published: | 2018 |
| Deposited By: | Education |
| Deposited On: | 2018-10-10 |
| Last Modified: | 2018-10-10 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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