Frontline Learning Research

Abstract

This paper focuses on a trend to analyse temporal characteristics of constructs important to learning and instruction. Different researchers have indicated that we should pay more attention to time in our research to enhance explanatory power en increase validity. Constructs formerly viewed as personal traits, such as self-regulated learning and motivation, are now conceptualized as a series of events that unfold over time. This raises new questions with regard to the temporal characteristics of these constructs and their dynamic interplay with learner and context characteristics. Even though the value of analyzing temporal characteristics slowly becomes evident a number of challenges need to be tackled in order to make progress in de field of learning and instruction. First, we need to be aware of the paradigm shift that temporal analysis entails. Second, a common understanding of different dimensions of time and the position of temporal characteristics therein can facilitate our time related research dialogue. Third, a better understanding how to answer time related questions with appropriate methodological approaches needs to emerge. Fourth, researching temporal characteristics entails segmenting time which procedures are needed for. Fifth, temporal data are mostly collected at the micro level, whereas most theory is defined at a macro level; consequently we need to bridge these differences in the granularity used between collecting, coding and theorizing to enhance meaning making. Finally, so far most examples of time related research are explorative or comparative studies, the next step is to move toward confirmative studies which constitutes the “Holy Grail” of temporal analysis.

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