Weegy: The Theoretical Framework
As a first step in this project the Research Committee met to develop a shared understanding of the theoretical framework which was to underpin their work. [ At the outset it was agreed that the individual members of the Research Committee should put their personal preferences for certain research methodologies and methods aside in favour of adopting a research design appropriate to the purpose of the study. The Research Committee was also aware, that given the decentralised nature of the Catholic education system in Queensland, that although a state-wide methodological framework could be negotiated, within this broad framework there would be an expectation that each diocesan authority would customise the methodology to meet local circumstances. After careful consideration of this purpose, and negotiation with the Queensland Catholic Education Commission and the various Catholic schooling authorities, the Research Committee positioned the project within the theoretical perspective of Symbolic Interactionism and recognised the epistemology of Constructivism embedded in this theoretical perspective. Consistent with this philosophical stance the project adopted a Grounded Theory methodology and employed hermeneutical, dialogical and dialectical methods during the processes of data collection, analysis and interpretation.
Symbolic Interactionism is a theoretical perspective that offers a particular view of the meaning of self, the nature of reality, the emergence and importance of society, the nature of symbols, the importance of human communication, and the future of humanity (Charon, 2000). In this view, meaningful reality is contingent upon human practices, being construed in and out of interaction between human beings and their world, and developed and transmitted through symbolic communication within social context. As individuals and groups we use symbols, especially language, to name, remember, categorise, perceive, think, ...
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