Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Operationalising the research

Lina has suggested that I look at phenomenography in the research study.

What is phenomenography?
"Phenomenography is a research method adapted for mapping the qualitatively different ways in which people experience, conceptualise, perceive, and understand various aspects of, and phenomena in, the world around them"  (Marton, 1986, p.31 as cited in Bowden, 2000, p. 2)

Most of the publications that I have come across so far use phenomenography as a method of exploring conceptions and understanding in teaching and learning.

"Phenomenographic research methods of data collection and analysis can be used to study a range of issues, including approaches to learning, approaches to teaching, understanding of scientific phenomena learned in school, or understanding of general issues in society unrelated to educational systems" (Bowden, 2000, p.1)

The use of phenomenography to depict future views has been far few. The closest one that I have found is a study in the field of Information Systems which in turn is quoted elsewhere.
"The method of phenomenography can help us to see different views of reality, catch unexpected views, compare views, and see views to the future" (Kaapu et al, 2006, p. 15).

The question in my mind is does phenomenography have more to do with conceptions /understanding of a phenomenon for example students' understanding of physics, or teachers' conception of e-learning; and can it be applied to elicit "future views" as asserted by Kaapu et al (2006)?

What are the strengths of phenomenographic research? What might be weaknesses of this method?

Also need to check out Trowler and Prichard's Realizing qualitative research into higher education (2003).

References

Bowden, J.A. (2000). The nature of phenomenographic research. In J.A. Bowden and E. Walsh (eds). Phenomenography [online]. Melbourne: RMIT University Press. pp.1-19.

Kaapu. T., Saarenpää, T., Tiainen, T. & Paakki, M.K. (2006) The Truth is Out There – Phenomenography in Information Systems Research. Proc The 29th Information Systems Research Seminar in Scandinavia, Helsingör, Denmark.

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