Conceptualizing concepts : The use of Methodological Concepts in Qualitative Research

• Within the scientific community, methodological concepts occupy a central position. Many students devote much effort trying to learn "correct" meanings for the concepts with which they come in contact. Another way to approach what might be termed ‘ontology of conceptualization’ is to study how concepts are used. The subject of this investigation is an exploration of the use of some methodological concepts as they arise in academic dissertations. In the theses that were studied it was found that concepts are not used coherently in a lexical sense. While use may be consistent with knowledge claims as they are elucidated in the texts, there is a need to distinguish what is being described in terms of the use of concepts from other possible meaning-options. A didactic conclusion from this analysis is that the teaching of research methodology will be more successful when it focuses on differences between concepts and how they are presented and used in given research contexts, rather than attempting to providing general all-encompassing definitions.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Utbildningsvetenskap -- Pedagogik (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Educational Sciences -- Pedagogy (hsv//eng)

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