Institutional Collaborative Research Training in Open and Distance Learning: A South African Phenomenological Case Study

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore and describe collaborative research training between open and distance learning (ODL) institutions with the aim of increasing research output in the South African context. Data for this study were collected through the use of semi-structured interviews to understand how institutions could collaborate to increase their research outputs. Data were collected, recorded and analysed using Collaizi’s data analysis framework. The framework was chosen for its ability to provide clear steps for data presentation and analysis. The study revealed that institutional collaboration is the only answer to improve research output in ODL. Furthermore, the study found out that developed researchers in various ODL institutions appear to be working in separate silos that are full of experiences but unable to share with those who are still developing. This study therefore argues that if developed and novice researchers from various ODL institutions can collaboratively work together, research output can drastically be improved. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n3p381