Living the life of the social inquirer: Beginning educational research

Citation

Watson C (2005) Living the life of the social inquirer: Beginning educational research. Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung / Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 6 (2), Art. No.: 28. http://www.qualitative-research.net/index.php/fqs/article/view/471

Abstract
I contend that too much educational research has focused on method rather than methodology. This has led to uncritical research that accepts as a given the objective reality of the social constructs being investigated and is not concerned with an examination of the relationship between research and practice. In this paper I aim to show why an examination of the underlying "philosophical plumbing" is necessary before embarking on educational research. I then follow my own advice, examining my beliefs about epistemology, ontology and axiology in order to create the research space I am going to inhabit as I set out on my doctoral studies. In doing this I try to arrive at a synthesis of constructivism, postmodernism and participation, examining the tensions and possibilities that this synthesis gives rise to

Keywords
educational research; methodology; philosophy; epistemology; ontology; axiology

Journal
Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung / Forum: Qualitative Social Research: Volume 6, Issue 2

People

Professor Cate Watson

Emeritus Professor, Faculty of Social Sciences