Constructivism: learning theories and approaches to research

Abstract

This chapter promotes alignment of worldview, theoretical frameworks and research approaches in relation to constructivism and its philosophical underpinnings. It presents an overview of constructivist theories of learning. The chapter then focuses on constructivist approaches to research: its traditions and methods. It provides examples from various disciplines including clinical medicine, healthcare profession education and nursing. The chapter explains how the philosophy of constructivism gives rise to certain theories of learning which we rely on in our daily practice. It explains the role of the researcher in constructivist research. The constructivist researcher would accept that the information being shared through the interview process is the result of an exchange between the researcher and the participant, rather than the conveying of ‘pure, unfiltered’ fact. Authenticity criteria assess the fairness of research within the constructivist domain.

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