Conference sessions in Research in economics education
Why it works: using qualitative methods in economic education research
Presentation at DEE 2019,This paper examines the scope for qualitative methods in economic education research. Usually, when economists research teaching and learning in their subject, they employ quantitative techniques they use in researching economics. These techniques have been designed to answer particular types of question which necessarily assume that the definition of variables and processes has already been settled. In contrast, qualitative methods have been designed to investigate the appropriate categories to use when describing or explaining a phenomenon. These methods become useful when we are interested in how students understand economic phenomena, the nature of their misconceptions and the processes involved in the design of interventions in economics education. This paper examines the strengths and weaknesses of different forms of qualitative research (e.g. in-depth interviews, observation, design research) that may be used in economics education research. This review considers published examples of the use of qualitative methods in researching teaching and learning in economics. We evaluate each method in relation to the kind of question it is suited to answer, the challenges to be faced in using the method, how these challenges may be addressed and the feasibility (cost/benefit) of using the method. The paper offers a guide to ways in which qualitative methods may be combined with other qualitative and quantitative research in expanding what is known about economics education.
