Curtin University Homepage
  • Library
  • Help
    • Admin

    espace - Curtin’s institutional repository

    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.
    View Item 
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item

    A Philosophical Perspective on the Utility of Quantitative Methods in Educational Research

    Access Status
    Fulltext not available
    Authors
    Cavanagh, Rob
    Reynolds, Peter
    Date
    2005
    Type
    Book Chapter
    
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Citation
    Cavanagh, R. and Reynolds, P. 2005. A Philosophical Perspective on the Utility of Quantitative Methods in Educational Research, in Waugh, R.F. (ed), Frontiers in Educational Psychology, pp. 235-256. New York: Nova Publishers.
    Source Title
    Frontiers in Educational Psychology
    ISBN
    1-59454-109-4
    School
    Humanities-Faculty Office
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/45031
    Collection
    • Curtin Research Publications
    Abstract

    This chapter examines quantitative educational research methods with a view to identifying how the utility of this kind of research can be improved. The paradigmatic considerations of ontology, epistemology and methodology are viewed from a philosophical perspective. A combination of inductive and deductive logic is used to assay evidence, develop arguments and counter-arguments, and to substantiate claims made about quantitative and qualitative research. The substantive content of the chapter concerns information on philosophical inquiry, quantitative and qualitative research approaches in education, and the analytic techniques specific to quantitative educational research. The philosophical critique of quantitative methods contained in this chapter highlights limitations of the method in dealing with the temporal and socio-cultural nature of education. This focuses on a bias in the method where more attention is given to methodological issues than to those concerning ontology and epistemology. However, a detailed examination of specific aspects of the method as it is currently applied to investigate more 'subjective' (e.g. socio-cultural) educational problems suggests that the limitations and bias could be addressed without detracting from the inherent scientific rigour of the method. This is viewed as achievable in two ways. Firstly, by incorporating philosophical considerations in the conceptualisation of theoretical models and the specification of research hypotheses. Secondly, by exploiting fully multi-variate techniques, statistical modelling techniques, and other recent developments in the construction of attitude scales and analysis of rating scale data.

    Related items

    Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.

    • The relationship between mathematics educators' beliefs and their teaching practices
      Lomas, Gregor (2004)
      This longitudinal study explored the extent to which mathematics education lecturers' constructivist beliefs and aligned practices were communicated to students in a New Zealand primary pre-service teacher education degree ...
    • Science education reform in a post-colonial developing country in the aftermath of a crisis : the case of Rwanda
      Earnest, Jaya (2003)
      The research reported in this thesis is an in-depth study of science education reform in a transitional society. The society in transition is Rwanda - one of the world's poorest countries - a tiny central African nation ...
    • Culture, worldview and transformative philosophy of mathematics education in Nepal: a cultural-philosophical inquiry
      Luitel, Bal Chandra (2009)
      This thesis portrays my multifaceted and emergent inquiry into the protracted problem of culturally decontextualised mathematics education faced by students of Nepal, a culturally diverse country of south Asia with more ...
    Advanced search

    Browse

    Communities & CollectionsIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument TypeThis CollectionIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument Type

    My Account

    Admin

    Statistics

    Most Popular ItemsStatistics by CountryMost Popular Authors

    Follow Curtin

    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 

    CRICOS Provider Code: 00301JABN: 99 143 842 569TEQSA: PRV12158

    Copyright | Disclaimer | Privacy statement | Accessibility

    Curtin would like to pay respect to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members of our community by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which the Perth campus is located, the Whadjuk people of the Nyungar Nation; and on our Kalgoorlie campus, the Wongutha people of the North-Eastern Goldfields.