Approaches in

Educational Research
Presented by: Sharon, Faiiz, Amirah, Hazirah, Safwan,
Gowsalya

Tutorial Task

Explain and justify the

approach Alicia has
employed

The interpretive approach

(qualitative)
Aim
(a) To gain a deep understanding of a specific event, rather than a
surface description of a large sample of a population. Csulb, 2010
Eg: She had decided to talk to her pupils to know their background
knowledge on the topic.
(b) To uncover trends in thought and opinions, and dive deeper into the
problem . - Susan E. Wyse, 2011
Eg: Class, tell me about the plant.
Very good. What else?
Oh!? Why
do you say that? Teacher found out students misconception: they knew that
plants, like all living things, needed water and food, but she got to make them
understand that plants neednt drink or eat but they make their own food
through photosynthesis.

 Qualitative data collection method:

(a) Some common methods include focus groups (group discussions),
individual interviews, and participation/observations. Susan E. Wyse, 2011
Eg: Intensive social interaction between the researcher and the subjects
(b) The sample size is typically small - Susan E. Wyse, 2011
Eg: Respondents- students of 3 Mawar
(c) Concepts, data collection tools, and data collection methods can be
adjusted as the research progresses. [Flexible]
Eg: she decided to make them understand just the very important
elements for photosynthesis to take place
She brings in a potted plant to do an experiment
design explicit tasks and use questioning strategy to lead the children to
confront the key elements

(d) Unlike quantitative research which relies on responses

to pre-formulated questions, qualitative research allows
unlimited expression from respondents Atlas, 2016
[Open-ended questions instead of closed]
Eg :

 Knowledge
Contextualized
Takes into account how the participants derive meaning from their
surroundings, and how their meaning influences their concept Csulb, 2010
Eg:

Hence, the context of family influence (Mother says) is included in the

observation

 Knowledge (Application of Knowledge)

- A form of social enquiry that focuses on the way people interpret and
make sense of their experiences and the world in which they live
(Atkinson, 1990)
- Retrieved the information from the people around them and keep
using and believe it without changing the actual facts that they have
been retrieved previously.
- Maintaining the facts and hard to change their belief on what they
have learnt.
- Same example with ruyi

 Subjective and value dependent

Hypotheses are value-dependent; the
researcher's own values, biases, and subjective
preferences affects decisions. - Russian
Communication Association, 2013
Eg: The teacher uses the theoretical assumption /
personal preference that to design explicit tasks and
use questioning strategy to lead the children to confront
the key elements is the best way to to help the
children understand that Plants make their own food
through photosynthesis

References
http://www.russcomm.ru/eng/rca_biblio/m/matveev01_e
ng.shtml
http://atlasti.com/quantitative-vs-qualitative-research/
http://www.ccs.neu.edu/course/is4800sp12/resources/q
ualmethods.pdf
http://www.snapsurveys.com/blog/what-is-the-difference
-between-qualitative-research-and-quantitative-researc
h/
http://web.csulb.edu/~msaintg/ppa696/696quali.htm