A Realist Conceptual Methodology for Qualitative Educational Research: A Modest Proposal

Date
2024-10-07
Authors
Lourie, M
McPhail, G
Supervisor
Item type
Journal Article
Degree name
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Abstract

This article explains and illustrates an approach to the design of qualitative inquiry in education using a conceptual methodology informed by a realist ontology. It is written with research novices in mind, based on two observations we have made while supervising postgraduate students. The first is that the methodology literature education students often engage with tends to focus on interpretivist-constructivist approaches. The second observation is that it can be challenging for students to find appealing and accessible material which employs realist informed methodology. To counter this we offer a general introduction to undertaking educational research informed by a realist ontology drawing on a simplified account of critical realism (CR). We illustrate the key concepts of this approach using examples from postgraduate studies in education. It is our hope that this article may stimulate wider discussion about the possibilities, development, and use of realist approaches.

Description
Keywords
3901 Curriculum and Pedagogy , 3903 Education Systems , 39 Education , 4 Quality Education , 13 Education , Education , 39 Education
Source
New Zealand Journal of Educational Studies, ISSN: 0028-8276 (Print); 2199-4714 (Online), Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 1-15. doi: 10.1007/s40841-024-00344-4
Rights statement
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