14. Resources

Glossary

Term	Definition
Axiology	The term ‘Axiology’ is referred to the philosophy of morality; how the values and ethics are involved in research (Saunders et al., 2007). According to Heron (1996), there is no doubt that researchers are integrating their values, morals and ethics when research is conducted and published. Therefore, it is vital that researchers carefully consider and focus upon these values. Axiological skills can assist expressing researchers’ beliefs as a basis for judging how they are doing research (Heron, 1996). A Heron, J. (1996). Co-operative inquiry: Research into the human condition: Sage.
Epistemology	There are various definitions of the term ‘Epistemology’, which is referred to the study of how knowledge is possible. Moreover, epistemology is the nature of knowledge that concerns with exploring human being’s knowledge, nature and existence (Bogen, 2009). According to Crotty (1998), epistemology is a knowledge theory that applied to the theoretical perspective and methodology. Bogen, J. (2009). Theory and observation in science. Crotty, M. (1998). The foundations of social research: Meaning and perspective in the research process: Sage.
Ontology	Ontology has been defined as the study of the existence and being, the theory of existence, the way the world is and the assumptions about the nature of reality (Guba, 1990; Kalof, Dan, & Dietz, 2008). According to Hatch (2018), ontology is what is assumed in our minds about reality. Ontological assumptions can lead researchers to understand the world better (Saunders, Lewis, & Thornhill, 2007). The ontological assumptions mostly lead to epistemological assumptions (Sale, Lohfeld, & Brazil, 2002). Guba, E. G. (1990). The paradigm dialog. Paper presented at the Alternative Paradigms Conference, Mar, 1989, Indiana U, School of Education, San Francisco, CA, US. Hatch, M. J. (2018). Organization theory: Modern, symbolic, and postmodern perspectives: Oxford University press. Kalof, L., Dan, A., & Dietz, T. (2008). Essentials of social research: McGraw-Hill Education (UK). Sale, J. E., Lohfeld, L. H., & Brazil, K. (2002). Revisiting the quantitative-qualitative debate: Implications for mixed-methods research. Quality and quantity, 36(1), 43-53. Saunders, M., Lewis, P., & Thornhill, A. (2007). Research methods. Business Students.
Research Paradigm	In the philosophy of science, the term ‘paradigm’, introduced by Kuhn, provides scientists with approaches to raise and solve problems for some time (Kuhn, 1962). The term ‘paradigm’ describes the way of seeing and understanding the reality of sciences in order to be examined (Kuhn, 1970). However, the term paradigm is associated with natural science, which is called ‘normal science; Kuhn used the term ‘paradigm’ to describe the natural sciences and for the social sciences used the term ‘disciplinary matrix’ (Weaver & Olson,2006). In spite of Kuhn, the term paradigm is referred for both sciences in this paper. The paradigm of scientific knowledge is a set of theoretical assumptions that researchers believe about ontology, epistemology, methodology and methods (Abdul Rehman & Alharthi, 2016); the research paradigms rely on these concepts (Alghamdi & Li, 2013) .The three major assumptions, which are developing all research philosophies, are ontology, epistemology and axiology. Alghamdi, A. H., & Li, L. (2013). Adapting design-based research as a research methodology in educational settings. International Journal of Education and Research, 1(10), 1-12. Abdul Rehman, A., & Alharthi, K. (2016). An introduction to research paradigms. 3. Kuhn, T. S. (1970). The Structure of Scientific Revolutions University of Chicago. Press, Chicago. Weaver, K., & Olson, J. K. (2006). Understanding paradigms used for nursing research. Journal of advanced nursing, 53(4), 459-469.

Resources

Resource Title
AKHTAR-DANESH, N., BAUMANN, A. & CORDINGLEY, L. 2008. Q-Methodology in Nursing Research:A Promising Method for the Study of Subjectivity. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 30, 759-773.
BROWN, S. R. 1980. Political Subjectivity: Applications of Q Methodology in Political Science.
CAELLI, K., RAY, L. & MILL, J. 2003. ‘Clear as mud’: toward greater clarity in generic qualitative research. International journal of qualitative methods, 2, 1-13
CAMERON, R. 2011. Mixed methods research: The five Ps framework. Electronic Journal of Business Research Methods, 9.
CLARKE, E. & VISSER, J. 2019. Pragmatic research methodology in education: possibilities and pitfalls. International Journal of Research & Method in Education, 42, 455-469.
COLLINS, H. 2010. Creative Research: The Theory and Practice of Research for the Creative Industries, Bloomsbury Academic.
CONVERSE, M. 2012. Philosophy of phenomenology: understanding aids research. Nurse researcher, 20, 28.
CRESWELL, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methodsapproaches (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage publications.
CRESWELL, J. W. & CLARK, V. L. P. 2007. Designing and conducting mixed methods research.
CROSS, R. M. 2004. Exploring attitudes: the case for Q methodology. Health Education Research, 20, 206-213.
CROTTY, M. 1998. The Foundations of Social Research: Meaning and Perspective in the Research Process, SAGE Publications.
DENSCOMBE, M. 2008. Communities of practice: A research paradigm for the mixed methods approach. Journal of mixed methods research, 2, 270-283.
DENZIN, N. K. & LINCOLN, Y. S. 2011. The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Research, SAGE Publications.
DRIAL, O. P. D. 2011. Exploring e-learning adoption in nurse education: a socio-cultural case study using Q and Bourdieu.
DZIOPA, F. & AHERN, K. 2011. A Systematic Literature Review of the Applications of Q-Technique and Its Methodology. European Journal of Research Methods for the Behavioral and Social Sciences, 2, 39-55.
ELLINGSEN, I., STØRKSEN, I. & STEPHENS, P. 2010. Q methodology in social work research. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 13, 396-409.
GLASGOW, R. E. 2013. What does it mean to be pragmatic? Pragmatic methods, measures, and models to facilitate research translation. Health Education & Behavior, 40, 257- 265.
GOLDKUHL, G. 2012. Pragmatism vs interpretivism in qualitative information systems research. European journal of information systems, 21, 135-146.
JOHNSON, R. B., ONWUEGBUZIE, A. J. & TURNER, L. A. 2007. Toward a definition of mixed methods research. Journal of mixed methods research, 1, 112-133.
KAHLKE, R. M. 2014. Generic qualitative approaches: Pitfalls and benefits of methodological mixology. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 13, 37-52.
LADAN, M. A. 2018. Exploring Factors Influencing E-Health Adoption and Use among Healthcare Professionals in the clinical area in Sub-Saharan Africa: Using Q-Methodology and Models of Technology Acceptance. PhD, University of Nottingham.
MCKEOWN & THOMAS 2013. Q-Methodology, LosAngeles, Sage.
MERRIAM, S. B. 2002a. Introduction to qualitative research. Qualitative research in practice: Examples for discussion and analysis, 1, 1-17.
MITCHELL, A. & EDUCATION, A. E. A review of mixed methods, pragmatism and abduction techniques. ECRM 2018 17th European Conference on Research Methods in Business and Management, 2018. Academic Conferences and publishing limited, 269.
NEUMAN, W. L. 2000. Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches, Allyn and Bacon.
SALKIND, N. J. 2010. Encyclopedia of research design, Sage.
SANDELOWSKI, M. 2000. Focus on research methods-whatever happened to qualitative description? Research in nursing and health, 23, 334-340.
STENNER, P. & ROGERS, S. 2004. Q methodology and qualiquantology: the example of discriminating between emotions, Hove, UK, Psychology Press.
STEPHENSON 1953. The study of behavior: Q technique and its methodology, Chicago, University of Chicago Press.
WATTS, S. & STENNER, P. 2012. Doing Q Methodological research: theroy, method and interpretation, London, SAGE.
WEBLER, T., DANIELSON, S. & TULER, S. 2009a. Using Q Method to Reveal Social Perspectives in Environmental Research. Greenfield MA: Social and Environmental Research Institute.
WEBLER, T., STENTOR, D. & TULER, S. 2009b. Using Q Method to Reveal Social Perspectives in Environmental Research.

Learning outcomes

By completing this resource you will be able to:

• To understand the pragmatism paradigm
• To identify possible pragmatist methodologies
• To understand how pragmatist methodologies can be applied in research

This resource was developed by:

Content authors: Asiya Said Al Hasni, Emmanuel Asante, Fatma Atkan, Seda Sarıköse and Abdulrahman Muslihi

Narrators: Sarah Cottee, George Gadd and Gill Langmack

Project mentors: Nilgün Göktepe and Richard Windle

Project developers: Seda Akgül, Melike Ekerim, Amanda Hill and Michael Taylor

Peer Reviewers: Cherry Poussa, Kader Tekkaş Kerman, Ada Hui

Funding: This work was part of the THRESHOLD project “Training Health Researchers by Experience-Sharing, Harnessing Online Learning Development”, funded under the Newton Fund Research Environment Links, Turkey & UK, British Council.

The THRESHOLD project team:

Name: Seda Akgül

Role in Project: Learning Technologist

Background: Seda is an Educational Technologist at Koç University.

Name: Jennifer Akuamoah-Boateng

Role in Project: Student Author - University of Nottingham

Background: Jennifer is a PhD student at the School of Health Sciences pursuing her PhD in Midwifery. Her research interests are respectful maternity care, woman-centred care, the midwifery models of care and the development of training programmes for the improvement of maternity care in lower-middle income countries.

Name: Dr Emmanuel Asante

Role in Project: Student Author - University of Nottingham

Background: PhD Health Studies

Name: Fatma Atkan

Role in Project: Student Author - Koç University

Background: This project provided the opportunity to share information as a team with doctoral students from different university. And, it also enabled me to learn about mixed method research and to develop material using visualization techniques of this research method.

Name: Vildan Çakar

Role in Project: Student Author - Koç University

Background: Vildan graduated from Hacettepe University School of Nursing in Ankara, Turkey. She worked as a medical-surgical nurse, infection control nurse and wound care nurse specialist. Since 2018, while she has been continuing her PhD studies in Nursing at Koç University, Turkey. She also has been serving as a research and teaching assistant at the same university.

Name: Erdinc Demirer

Role in Project: Student Author and Content Reviewer - Koç University

Background: Clinical Research Nurse at Koç University Hospital.

Name: Kardelen Dolgungöz

Role in Project: Student Author - Koç University

Background: Master degree from Koç university. I started the PhD in Koç university at 2020. Psychiatric nursing.

Name: Rachael Drewery

Role in Project: Student Author - University of Nottingham

Background: Rachael is a nurse and doctoral researcher at the University of Nottingham. Her research uses conversation analysis to investigate compassion in nurse-patient interaction. Rachael's research interests include communication in health care encounters, the translation of policy into health care practice and the application of qualitative research methods.

Name: Melike Ekerim

Role in Project: Learning Technologist

Background: Melike is an educational technologist at Koç University. Designing and developing e-learning contents by considering instructional and multimedia design principles is one of her main interests as well as providing pedagogical and technical support to the campus community.

Name: Dr Sarah Elizabeth Field-Richards

Role in Project: Staff Author and Content Reviewer- University of Nottingham

Background: Sarah Field-Richards is a Registered Nurse and Research Fellow in the School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham. Her research interests include sociology of professions, organisational sociology, compassion and workplace wellbeing.

Name: Assistant Professor Nilgün Göktepe

Role in Project: Project Lead

Background: Nilgün is an Assistant Professor of Nursing Management in Koç University School of Nursing. She is also an educator and course coordinator for Koç University Semahat Arsel Nursing Education and Research Center. She is interested in nursing management, leadership, productivity, work environment, continue education in nursing and educational methods.

Name: Seyma Gözaydınoğlu

Role in Project: Student Author - Koç University

Background: I am happy to be a part of this project.

Name: Eyşan Hanzade Umaç

Role in Project: Student Author - Koç University

Background: I am doctorate student at Koc University. I study about Child Health and Disease and I have exprience on quantitavive research methods. Additionally thanks to this project, I had be experience about qualitative research methods.

Name: Amanda Hill

Role in Project: Project Coordinator and Developer

Background: Amanda is Digital Development Officer in the Health E-learning and Media (HELM) team, at the University of Nottingham. She has extensive international project management and stakeholder engagement experience. She is a passionate advocate for barrier free learning.

Name: Dr Ada Hui

Role in Project: Staff Author and Content Reviewer- University of Nottingham

Background: Ada is an Assistant Professor in Mental Health and Deputy Director of Postgraduate Research at the University of Nottingham. With an interdisciplinary background in sociology and mental health, Ada leads research studies examining institutional injustice amongst marginalised communities, and teaches across undergraduate and postgraduate curriculum.

Name: Lydia Jones

Role in Project: Technical Support and Audio Coordinator

Background: Lydia has worked in the HELM team at the University of Nottingham for 14 years and is currently the eLearning and Project Development Officer. She has many years’ experience in project management and audio/video production.

Name: Burak Kundakci

Role in Project: Student Author - University of Nottingham

Background: I graduated as a physiotherapist in 2012. I did my master's in Physiotherapy (Advancing Neuromusculoskeletal Practice) at UoN. Currently, I am a PhD student in Academic Rheumatology.

Name: Bahar Madran

Role in Project: Student Author - Koç University

Background: PhD candidate at Public Health Field.

Name: Abdulrahman Muslihi

Role in Project: Student Author - University of Nottingham

Background: Muslihi, Abdul is a PhD student at the University of Nottingham and a lecturer at Jazan University. He is the former coordinator of E-Learning unit at Faculty of Public Health and Tropical Medicine at Jazan University. His research interests include utilising online tools to enhance patients social support.

Name: Öykü Öztürk

Role in Project: Student Author - Koç University

Background: I am phd student in Koc Universty , meanwhile I attend this Project such as student.

Name: Dr Cherry Poussa

Role in Project: Content Reviewer

Background: Cherry is the Head of Digital Learning Support Services in the School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham. She manages the Health E-learning and Media (HELM) team and supports the technical and budgetary aspects HELM projects. Her broad research interests are in the field of human-computer interaction and specifically in web-based learning self-efficacy.

Name: Asiya Said Al Hasni

Role in Project: Student Author and Content Reviewer- University of Nottingham

Background: Asiya is Acdemic staff in Higher Institute of Health Specialities (HIHS) in Oman. Member of curriculum development committee in the institute. PhD student in University of Nottingham. Her research and development interests include open multimedia learning content pedagogy and reuse, stakeholder involvement in content development and student generated content.

Name: Seda Sarikose

Role in Project: Student Author - Koç University

Background: I was lucky to be involved in this study. I learned a lot from our friends at Nottingham University. I've learned things about different research methods. The only challenge of the project was to arrange online meetings due to the pandemic. It would be much more useful to have meetings face-to-face.

Name: Ahmed Sharaf

Role in Project: Student Author and Content Reviewer- University of Nottingham

Background: Ahmed is a PhD candidate at the School of Health Sciences at the university of Nottingham as well as an assistant lecturer of Community Nursing at the University of Alexandria in Egypt. His research and development interests include; qualitative and qualitative methodologies, questionnaire design, Health research content development, and Palliative and end of life care research.

Name: Mara Sprengel-Smith

Role in Project: Project Finance Coordinator

Background: Mara Sprengel-Smith is the Contract Delivery Support Officer in the School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham. She provides budget monitoring, contractual, financial reporting, and project management support to a portfolio of student mobility and Erasmus+ research projects, as well as coordinating educational contracts, CPD and business development.

Name: Michael Taylor

Role in Project: Lead Project Developer and Academic Designer

Background: Mike is an experienced Open Educational Practioner and Academic Designer and his interests include open multimedia learning content pedagogy and reuse, stakeholder involvement in content development, co-creation development practices and student generated content.

Name: Dr Kader Tekkas Kerman

Role in Project: LContent Reviewer

Background: Dr. Kader Tekkas Kerman is an assistant professor of public health nursing at Koc University School of Nursing. Her research interest focuses on assessing and promoting health of vulnerable populations including those women and children; chronically ill and disabled; immigrant and refugees. She is experienced on innovative methods, active learning techniques and output-based training models in education, and curriculum development.

Name: Dr Y. Abigail Tronco Hernandez

Role in Project: Staff Author - University of Nottingham

Background: Abigail recently completed a PhD in Health studies, her research was focused on Nutrition Education and has implications for healthcare students. She is a postgraduate research assistant in the School of Nursing working on a project to improve GPs education on mental health. Her research interests include health education, health promotion and nutritional care in the workplace and for people who have been affected by COVID-19.

Name: Professor Heather Wharrad

Role in Project: Project Lead

Background: Heather is Professor of e-Learning and Health Informatics at the University of Nottingham and co-academic lead for the HELM team. Her research and development interests include pedagogical co-design of digital learning in healthcare contexts and capacity building in open digital education. She leads national and international projects in digital learning and has published widely in this field.

Name: Professor Richard Windle

Role in Project: Project Lead

Background: Richard is Professor of Digital learning at the University of Nottingham and co-academic lead for the HELM team. As well as leading online curriculum development, his research and development interests include open multimedia learning content pedagogy and reuse, stakeholder involvement in content development and student generated content.

Name: Zuhal Zeybekoglu

Role in Project: Project Lead

Background: Zuhal is the Manager of Office of Learning and Teaching at Koc University. She designs and delivers faculty development programs, supports academic programs in curriculum evaluation and conducts SoTL projects. She holds Ph.D. in education and her research interest mainly focuses on improving learning and teaching in higher education.

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