Butterflies and black swans: metaphors that provide new perspectives to understand quantitative models in educational research
Edited book (chapter)
Chapter Title | Butterflies and black swans: metaphors that provide new perspectives to understand quantitative models in educational research |
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Book Chapter Category | Edited book (chapter) |
ERA Publisher ID | 1417 |
Book Title | Metaphors for, in and of education research |
Authors | |
Author | Trimmer, Karen |
Editors | Midgley, Warren, Trimmer, Karen and Davies, Andy |
Page Range | 173-188 |
Chapter Number | 12 |
Number of Pages | 16 |
Year | 2013 |
Publisher | Cambridge Scholars Publishing |
Place of Publication | Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom |
ISBN | 9781443843980 |
Abstract | Metaphor has been used throughout this book as a way of constructing meaning to illustrate and communicate concepts. This is most often utilised in relation to qualitative methodology in education research. This chapter utilises two metaphors, butterflies and black swans as a conceptual tool to explain the quantitative approaches of complexity theory and probability theory respectively, in order to communicate how these approaches were used to develop a quantitative model of risk-taking in decision-making by school principals. The chapter aims to illustrate the use of a traditionally qualitative tool, the use of metaphor, in a wider context in educational research to bridge the gap in understanding of research methods and provide an interpretative aspect to quantitative modelling. The use of metaphor to explain probability theory and complexity theory may assist in making the results of education research on risk-taking in decision-making more relevant to qualitative researchers and encourage broader use of these approaches. |
Keywords | complexity; probability; quantitative models; risk-taking; decision-making |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 390303. Higher education |
490506. Probability theory | |
500107. Professional ethics | |
Public Notes | © 2013 by Warren Midgley, Karen Trimmer and Andy Davies and contributors. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. |
Byline Affiliations | Faculty of Education |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q1w0w/butterflies-and-black-swans-metaphors-that-provide-new-perspectives-to-understand-quantitative-models-in-educational-research
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