Combining Research Paradigms to Improve Poor Student Performance

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Author(s): Roelien Goede (North-West University – Vaal Campus, South Africa), Estelle Taylor (North-West University – Potchefstroom Campus, South Africa)and Christoffel van Aardt (Vaal University of Technology, South Africa)
Copyright: 2015
Pages: 23
Source title: Research Methods: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications
Source Author(s)/Editor(s): Information Resources Management Association (USA)
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-7456-1.ch064

Keywords: Information Science Reference / Library & Information Science / Research Methods

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Abstract

The aim of this chapter is to demonstrate the advantages of combining methods from different research paradigms. Positivism, interpretivism, and critical social theory are presented as major paradigms in Information Systems research. The chapter demonstrates the use of methods representative of these three research paradigms in a single research setting. The main problem in the research setting is the poor performance of students in a specific module of their academic programme. This problem is addressed by initiating an action research project using methods representing different research paradigms in the different phases of the project. The argument for using mixed methods is presented by providing information on research paradigms, discussing the problem environment, describing the research process, and finally, reflecting on research paradigms and their application in this environment.

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Combining Research Paradigms to Improve Poor Student Performance

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