What is Qualitative Research?―Toward Further Expansion of Educational Technology Research

Abstract

The author discusses the significance of qualitative research methodology in educational technology research. For that purpose, he first describes what qualitative research is, showing its characteristics, process, differences from quantitative research, crucial points for its understanding and practice, generalizability and research evaluation. Then he discusses its significance in educational technology research, in terms of from technology-push to requirement-pull, from research for the research article’s own to effective system development, from product-focused to process-focused, necessity of goal-free evaluation, research on teachers who are the gate keepers of educational technology, and educational research through educational technology research.