1. August, 2012 . University of Helsinki
Philosophic Bases and Personal Skills
Philosophy of Research
Introductory Points

2. Central Questions
What is the importance of research?
What does it do?
What does it not do?
What are the main sources of research?
How are research topics selected?
How do our paradigms shape our research
approaches?

3. The Importance of Research-
What it Does
Defines membership in a field of study,
profession, or discipline.
Defines a field of study/practice, profession,
or discipline.
Reveals taken-for-granted assumptions.
Informs practice.
Guides policy making.
Stakes Claims

4. The Importance of Research-
What it Doesn’t Do
Preserve Neutrality.
Remain Apolitical.
Provide Findings for Free.
Merely Provide Truth or a Pathway to
Truth-seeking

5. Sources, Channels, and Outlets
for Educational Research
University communities.
Practitioner-based settings and NGOs.
Governmental offices.
Foundation groups.
A few words about journals and
conferences.
Likewise with regard to electronic media.

6. How are Academic Research
Topics Selected?
Individual passions,interests, and quests,
Guided by the current state of the field.
Therefore…
Researchers need to know their interests,
And the state of the literature.

7. Competing Paradigms
Humanism
Emancipatory
Idealism
Liberal Arts
Behaviourism
Progressivism

8. Theoretical vs. Conceptual Bases
Central question: How are they different?
How are they discovered?
How are they used?