Description
A comprehensive review of research paradigms and the relationship
between methodologies and the doctoral process. Four methodological
perspectives are explored including: positivistic, the traditional
quantitative approach to educational research; qualitative, also
known as the interpretive or constructivist approach; ideological,
which encompasses action and social change research such as critical
theory; and pragmatic, which is a mixed-method approach used to
address specific research problems. The four alternative research
methodologies will be explored by addressing specific
epistemological issues: What constitutes knowledge? Where is
knowledge located? How is knowledge attained? How does one describe
the knowledge? How does one study the knowledge? What studies
illustrate the methodology? By the end of the course, a student will
be able to classify a research study according to the tradition of
inquiry and to express interpretive implications based on that
paradigm.