Reflection in Transformative Learning: The Challenge of Measurement

2021 ◽  
pp. 154134462110451
Author(s):  
Victor Savicki ◽  
Michele V. Price
Keyword(s):  
Transformative Learning ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Quantitative Measurement ◽  
Explanatory Power ◽  
Theory Development ◽  
Reflective Process ◽  
Qualitative Approaches ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
Linguistic Inquiry ◽  
Measurement Approach

Reflection is a key component of the transformative learning process. In this study, we take steps to define components of reflection and link them to a computer-based, quantitative method of content analysis called Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC). This method can be used to evaluate common forms of reflective writing such as journals, reflective essays, and blog posts. It has several advantages over more common qualitative approaches for measuring reflection. We test the efficacy of this quantitative measurement approach with data from 98 study abroad university students. The results indicate strong explanatory power that tracks well with theory and observation of the reflective process. Our approach follows procedures for construct validation of the measurement method. As an early step to use quantitative methods with reflection, the LIWC shows promise. However, much more research must be done to extend these initial findings both in measurement and theory development.

Qualitative Approaches in Internet-Mediated Research: Opportunities, Issues, Possibilities

2020 ◽  
pp. 632-673
Author(s):  
Claire Hewson
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Viable Alternative ◽  
Design Practice ◽  
Good Design ◽  
Practical Advice ◽  
Research Opportunities ◽  
Qualitative Approaches ◽  
Research Domains

Internet-mediated research (IMR) has grown expansively since the start of the 21st Century in scope, range of methodological possibilities, and breadth of penetration across disciplines and research domains. However, the use of IMR approaches to support qualitative research has lagged behind its application in supporting quantitative methods. This chapter discusses the possibilities of using IMR methods in qualitative research and considers the issues and debates that have led some qualitative researchers to be reluctant to consider IMR as a viable alternative to traditional offline methods. The chapter adopts an optimistic stance on the potential for qualitative IMR and outlines a range of possible methods and strategies, as well as examples of successful (and less successful) studies. Practical advice on tools, procedures, and guidelines for good design practice is offered. A comment on likely future scope, methods, emerging techniques, and developments in qualitative IMR is presented.

scholarly journals Using History as Evidence in Philosophy of Science: A Methodological Critique

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 239-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
James W. McAllister
Keyword(s):  
Social Science ◽  
Philosophy Of Science ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
History Of Science ◽  
Scientific Realism ◽  
Critical Review ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Qualitative Approaches ◽  
History Of

Abstract This article offers a critical review of past attempts and possible methods to test philosophical models of science against evidence from history of science. Drawing on methodological debates in social science, I distinguish between quantitative and qualitative approaches. I show that both have their uses in history and philosophy of science, but that many writers in this domain have misunderstood and misapplied these approaches, and especially the method of case studies. To test scientific realism, for example, quantitative methods are more effective than case studies. I suggest that greater methodological clarity would enable the project of integrated history and philosophy of science to make renewed progress.

scholarly journals Gambaran Perilaku Caring Petugas Lembaga Pembinaan Khusus Anak

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 241-254
Author(s):  
Sri Maslihah ◽  
Muhammad Ariez Musthofa ◽  
Gemala Nurendah
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Method ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Measuring Instrument ◽  
Caring Behaviors ◽  
Physical Conditions ◽  
Caring Behavior ◽  
Qualitative Approaches ◽  
Mixed Method Design ◽  
Food Needs

This study aims to obtain empirical data about caring behavior of warden in child prison (LPKA) perceived by child inmates called LPKA students. This study used mixed-method design combining quantitative and qualitative approaches. The first phase of research conducted by quantitative methods of data collection involving 67 samples consisted of 44 students of LPKA Bandung and 23 students of LPKA Tangerang. The measuring instrument used was caring behavior questionnaire adapted from Freese's caring instrument (1999). The second phase was conducted through interviews with four students of LPKA. The results showed that the caring behaviors of LPKA officers were mainly shown in the dimensions of understanding LPKA students. The caring behavior of these officers is demonstrated by their concern for physical conditions, food needs and emotional assistance, especially when LPKA students face problems. The presence of officers who care for LPKA students might be able to substitute the parents figures for LPKA students.

scholarly journals VIRTUAL SPACE AS A SOURCE OF PRIMARY SOCIAL INFORMATION

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Life ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Virtual Space ◽  
Sociological Research ◽  
Demographic Model ◽  
Sociological Approach ◽  
Qualitative Approaches ◽  
Sociological Method ◽  
Digital Footprints

The rapid development of the Internet has had an unprecedented impact on the improvement of the sociological method. At the turn of the millennium, this has led to the search for a new methodology and a gradual loss of interest to use of quantitative methods, which was perceived by specialists as a "crisis of empirical sociology". In the last decade, it turned out that almost all social processes of any level find their reflection in the virtual space, leave and accumulate so-called "digital footprints", which opens to researchers the widest perspectives for study of social reality. This article considers the features of digital primary information and generalized approaches to its use in terms of quantitative methodology. The author emphasizes that the classical sociological methods, which are based on mathematical statistics, are suitable for the analysis of digital reality and getting adequate research results. At the same time, as noted by most authors, who have studied this subject, there are perspectives for improving traditional sociological methods through: 1) a combination of representativeness of quantitative and depth of qualitative approaches to information analysis; 2) in-depth collection of paradata; 3) opportunities to study hard-to-reach social groups; 4) opportunities to fully implement the "principle of freedom from evaluation" due to the "non-reactivity" of digital data; 5) the ordering of digital footprints in space and time by clearly fixing the hosting. The post-demographic model of the social actor opens new ways to build samples of quantitative sociological research, which may be representative in terms of the classical sociological approach. The examples of research from this article show that the classical sociological method easily to adapt for the new digital reality and can be the basis for sociological consulting, development of social technologies in various spheres of social life.

scholarly journals Guidelines for Theory Development using Qualitative Research Approaches

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. pp95-103
Author(s):  
Noel Pearse
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Theory Development ◽  
Field Work ◽  
The Body ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
Qualitative Approaches ◽  
Data Collection And Analysis ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Research Propositions

Qualitative research has been criticised for not building a distinctive body of knowledge, leading to fewer publications and citations. In the light of this critique, this paper offers guidance on how qualitative researchers can contribute to developing a distinctive and cumulative body of knowledge, thereby attracting more attention to their research. In pursuit of this aim, there are four objectives addressed in this paper. The first objective is to explain the relevance and value of deductive qualitative approaches to theory building. Secondly, to illustrate how examining the maturation of a concept can help decide the appropriateness of a particular research approach. This paper explains how in their planning, researchers need to confirm their intention to contribute to theory development and to ensure that this is appropriate, given the stage of maturation of the concept to be investigated. The third objective is to offer guidance on the philosophical assumptions of the researcher and how to test research propositions. Therefore, it is advised that data collection and analysis should take place within a post-positivist paradigm, and that the field work should be designed and carried out with research propositions as a point of departure. The final research objective is to explain how the findings of a deductive qualitative study should be handled to demonstrate the contribution of the study to the body of knowledge. Here guidance is offered on the contextualisation and generalisation of research findings.

scholarly journals The Basics of Bayesian Approach to Quantitative Analysis (at the Example of Euroscepticism)

2021 ◽  
pp. 301-321
Author(s):  
Aleksey Domanov
Keyword(s):  
Bayesian Approach ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Explanatory Power ◽  
Life Quality ◽  
Likelihood Estimation ◽  
Event Analysis ◽  
Research Areas ◽  
True Value ◽  
Predictive Algorithms ◽  
The Impact

This article attempts to identify the main assumptions, prerequisites and techniques of the methods developed by some modern statisticians on the basis of T. Bayes' theorem for the purposes of social variables interactions assessment. The author underlined several advantages of the given approach as compared to more traditional quantitative methods and highlighted key research areas subject to evaluation by Bayesian estimates. First of all, this approach is compatible with game and decision theory, event analysis, hidden Markov chains, prediction using neural networks and other predictive algorithms of artificial intelligence. The Bayesian approach differs significantly from traditional statistical methods (first of all, it is focused on finding the most probable, rather than the only true value of the feature coupling coefficient), hence a graphical interpretation was provided for such basic concepts and techniques as probabilistic inference, maximum likelihood estimation and Bayesian confidence network. The described tools were used to test the hypothesis about the impact of life quality decrease on rise in Euroscepticism of EU citizens. ANOVA and correlation analysis of 27 thousand people’s responses to Eurobarometer questions addressed in November-December 2019 attributed strong likelihood to this assumption. Moreover, Bayesian approach allowed for a probabilistic conclusion that this hypothesis is more plausible than the link between Euroscepticism and respondents’ current financial situation (explanatory power of comparison to the past is relatively greater).

The Evolving Landscape of Research Methods in Library and Information Science

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Judith Mavodza
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Research Methods ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Research Strategy ◽  
Research Articles ◽  
Library And Information Science ◽  
Research Strategies ◽  
Qualitative Approaches ◽  
Research Questions

The library and information science (LIS) profession is influenced by multidisciplinary research strategies and techniques (research methods) that in themselves are also evolving. They represent established ways of approaching research questions (e.g., qualitative vs. quantitative methods). This chapter reviews the methods of research as expressed in literature, demonstrating how, where, and if they are inter-connected. Chu concludes that popularly used approaches include the theoretical approach, experiment, content analysis, bibliometrics, questionnaire, and interview. It appears that most empirical research articles in Chu's analysis employed a quantitative approach. Although the survey emerged as the most frequently used research strategy, there is evidence that the number and variety of research methods and methodologies have been increasing. There is also evidence that qualitative approaches are gaining increasing importance and have a role to play in LIS, while mixed methods have not yet gained enough recognition in LIS research.

Knowledge Model for Managing Product Variety and Its Reflective Design Process

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yutaka Nomaguchi ◽  
Tomohiro Taguchi ◽  
Kikuo Fujita
Keyword(s):  
Design Process ◽  
Product Family ◽  
Product Variety ◽  
Product Architecture ◽  
Air Conditioner ◽  
Knowledge Model ◽  
Product Families ◽  
Reflective Process ◽  
Reflective Design ◽  
Computer Based

Recent manufacturers have been utilizing product families to diversify and enhance the product performance by simultaneously designing multiple products under commonalization and standardization. Design information of product architecture and family is inevitably more complicated and numerous than that of a single product. Thus, more sophisticated computer-based support system is required for product architecture and family design. This paper proposes a knowledge model for a computer-based system to support reflective process of designing product architecture and product family. This research focuses on three problems which should be overcome when product family are modeled in the computer system; design repository without data redundancy and incorrectness, knowledge acquisition without forcing the additional effort on the designer, and integration of prescriptive models to support early stages of the design process. An ontology that is a foundation of a knowledge model is defined to resolve these problems. An example of designing an air conditioner product family is shown to demonstrate the capability of the system.

scholarly journals The untapped potential of mixed-methods research approaches for German history education research

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel Köster ◽  
Holger Thünemann
Keyword(s):  
Education Research ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Mixed Methods Research ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
History Education ◽  
Added Value ◽  
German History ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
German Studies ◽  
Qualitative Approaches

Despite some pioneering studies, mixed-methods research approaches are uncommon in the German history education community, in contrast to the general increase in mixed-methods research in the educational and social sciences. Conversely, German history education research currently appears to favour quantitative methods as opposed to qualitative approaches – at least in larger research projects. In this paper, we argue for a more inclusive research approach combining qualitative and quantitative methods. Discussion of a pioneering study from the 1980s (Jeismann et al ., 1987) highlights implementation of this unusual approach to history education research in Germany. To illuminate the added value of such a mixed-methods research approach, we discuss two published German studies that respectively rely on quantitative (Trautwein et al ., 2017) and qualitative (Köster, 2013) research methods. A mixed-methods approach might have illuminated each study's 'blind spots'.

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