You will note in the Crotty readings that his emphasis is on constructionism, what he at times calls social constructionism (or sometimes social constructivism). While it may seem at first reading this is all about different words for the same or different things, these are indeed critical differences that matter. Constructivism, especially social constructivism, is the epistemological foundation for interpretative and critical research perspectives. Davis & Sumara’s article, that refers more to teaching than research, is nonetheless excellent on these distinctions. Knowing whether you adopt a subject-centred constructivist epistemology or a subject object interdependent constructionist epistemology is an important step in finding a research orientation that is sensible.
All posts by Sandra Mathison
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Data Analysis Software
If you gave a 30 item survey to 1000 people would you analyze the results by hand or in your head? Probably not. The amount of data from an interpretive study will be just as voluminous and using computer assisted data analysis can make the analysis more systematic and frankly easier. There are a number of programs available, most are sold by Scolari and which one you use is at least partly a matter of personal choice.
In addition, the system you work on will matter. I am a Mac user and use HyperResearch. Other popular software packages, especially for those still stuck in the Windows world are atlas.ti and NVivo.
Open space technology
“Open Space Technology is one way to enable all kinds of people, in any kind of organization, to create inspired meetings and events. Over the last 20+ years, it has also become clear that opening space, as an intentional leadership practice, can create inspired organizations, where ordinary people work together to create extraordinary results with regularity.
In Open Space meetings, events and organizations, participants create and manage their own agenda of parallel working sessions around a central theme of strategic importance, such as: What is the strategy, group, organization or community that all stakeholders can support and work together to create?”
There are many resources for using open space technologies, but this one is the most comprehensive.