Learning outcomes
After studying this course, you should be able to:
appreciate why theory is relevant to and important for research
recognise how research perspectives offer ways of linking theory to the practice of research
understand what a research paradigm is and how paradigms can be distinguished from each other
recognise how the choice of a research paradigm and its associated research methodology relates to how a research problem or enquiry is conceptualised
understand how different research positions have led to different views about what counts as evidence and, as a consequence, what is judged to be valuable or reliable evidence in research
appreciate how having a clear view of the theories and concepts informing a study offers a useful framework for research.