Reflection-Oriented Qualitative
Approach in Beliefs Research
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Marmara University, Istanbul, TURKEY
Publication date: 2007-06-22
EURASIA J. Math., Sci Tech. Ed 2007;3(1):17-27
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ABSTRACT
Teacher beliefs have become important constructs in educational research with the
recognition that beliefs are the best indicators of teachers’ planning, decision-making and
subsequent classroom behaviour. In this movement many probes and strategies have
been employed by researchers for effective data collection and analysis. This paper
discusses the need for more reflection-oriented approaches in data collection and analysis
in beliefs research. A research project assessing and analyzing beliefs about the nature of
science is used as an example of such an approach and each step in data collection and
analysis is presented in detail. In addition, this paper also presents an example of how
technology (Internet-Mediated-Interviews) can be used in data collection and discusses
strengths and shortcomings of this approach.