Research Methods in Technical Vocational Education and Training

Abstract

TVET research is faced with the difficulty to justify and to develop an original research and development concept corresponding to the subject of research. Various interrelated research fields require a broad spectrum of TVET research methods. Since 1990s methodological discussion about the subject-related characteristics of TVET research and application of TVET research methods have been started. It showed that, when the research deals with the contents of occupational work and education, new subject-related research methods are needed. In this chapter, the authors present seven categories of research methods concretely: comprehension methods, survey methods, observation methods, case studies and studies of work, experimental methods, designing and developing methods, and evaluation methods. Particularly in the area of vocational scientific research, the subject-related research and development methods are of great importance.