Implementation of qualitative and mixed methods researches

The objective of the qualitative and quantitative integration in research designs is the reconciliation between paradigms and methods in research in social science. The objective to specify the general epistemological formulations on which qualitative methods are based in more precise and current methodological proposals, since we are in an exciting moment in the qualitative research in which it is appreciated a clear tendency in the use of a mixed methods research. During the Twentieth-First Century that have favoured the rise of mixed methods researches that enhance the mutual invigoration of the two types of methods, and facilitate the triangulation through operations. The aim of this track is to provide a space for reflection and put into practice the foundation, operationalization, and fields of application of qualitative and mixed methods researches.publishe

Mediating Cognitive Transformation with VR 3D Sketching during Conceptual Architectural Design Process

Communications for information synchronization during the conceptual design phase require designers to employ more intuitive digital design tools. This paper presents findings of a feasibility study for using VR 3D sketching interface in order to replace current non-intuitive CAD tools. We used a sequential mixed method research methodology including a qualitative case study and a cognitive-based quantitative protocol analysis experiment. Foremost, the case study research was conducted in order to understand how novice designers make intuitive decisions. The case study documented the failure of conventional sketching methods in articulating complicated design ideas and shortcomings of current CAD tools in intuitive ideation. The case study’s findings then became the theoretical foundations for testing the feasibility of using VR 3D sketching interface during design. The latter phase of study evaluated the designers’ spatial cognition and collaboration at six different levels: “physical-actions”, “perceptualac ons”, “functional-actions”, “conceptual-actions”, “cognitive synchronizations”, and “gestures”. The results and confirmed hypotheses showed that the utilized tangible 3D sketching interface improved novice designers’ cognitive and collaborative design activities. In summary this paper presents the influences of current external representation tools on designers’ cognition and collaboration as well as providing the necessary theoretical foundations for implementing VR 3D sketching interface. It contributes towards transforming conceptual architectural design phase from analogue to digital by proposing a new VR design interface. The paper proposes this transformation to fill in the existing gap between analogue conceptual architectural design process and remaining digital engineering parts of building design process hence expediting digital design process

Developing Signalong Indonesia: issues of happiness and pedagogy, training and stigmatisation

Signalong Indonesia (SI), a key word signing approach, was created to support the development of Indonesian inclusive schools. A mixed methods approach collected data about teacher’s beliefs and experiences regarding SI from the first two schools to pilot it. Thirty-two teachers completed questionnaires, followed by interviews with nine teachers. Three themes emerged: understanding the nature of SI, the stigmatisation of signers and its reporting by teachers, and the nature of happiness in inclusive pedagogy. The latter reveals, for the first time, the importance of Suka as a culturally mediated intrinsic part of Indonesian inclusive pedagogy. The findings suggest recommendations about SI materials and training, and indicate a new research area regarding inclusive pedagogies within different cultures

A review of researches on STEM in preservice teacher education

As the research on STEM education has begun to gain momentum in literature, the need for STEM education in the field of teacher training has been emphasized. Considering that STEM education plays an increasingly important role in teacher education both in our country and in the world, it is necessary to investigate the literature review that will guide these studies. According to the criteria determined in this study, 76 studies published between January 2001 and December 2018 were examined by using systematic review. These 76 studies are summarized under the categories of research, type of research, method research group, validity-reliability report, data collection tools, educational material, country of publication. The results of the research indicate that applied qualitative research methods are used mostly in preservice teacher education, the studies have increased significantly in the last three years, simple tools as education material are used mainly, and interview forms were preferred as the data collection tool. In the light of these findings, some suggestions are put forward to the teacher educators and researchers.As the research on STEM education has begun to gain momentum in literature, the need for STEM education in the field of teacher training has been emphasized. Considering that STEM education plays an increasingly important role in teacher education both in our country and in the world, it is necessary to investigate the literature review that will guide these studies. According to the criteria determined in this study, 76 studies published between January 2001 and December 2018 were examined by using systematic review. These 76 studies are summarized under the categories of research, type of research, method research group, validity-reliability report, data collection tools, educational material, country of publication. The results of the research indicate that applied qualitative research methods are used mostly in preservice teacher education, the studies have increased significantly in the last three years, simple tools as education material are used mainly, and interview forms were preferred as the data collection tool. In the light of these findings, some suggestions are put forward to the teacher educators and researchers

The magic of the Last Planner® System for Nigerian construction

Extremely poor economic performance of the Nigerian construction industry suggests that non-value adding activities are prevalent, which result not only in the reduction of contractors’ profit margin but economic loss for the country in general. This study analyses non-value adding activities in Nigerian construction sites. The research seeks to establish potential antidotes within the Last Planner® System (LPS) and reveal the elements of the LPS which could be abstracted into Nigerian construction to improve performance. It was found that these elements form the theoretical basis for developing a lean approach that was labelled Last Planner® thinking