Research strategy
The author utilizes the inductive research strategy. First, he collects data about the level of absenteeism in schools to analyze it and demonstrate the existing regularities in educational establishments. Second, this very information is used to generalize about the current tendencies and how they might affect the sphere. Finally, the collected statistics are used to conclude whether it is critical to attend learning courses or not. The utilization of this approach helps to conduct the in-depth study and acquire the answer to the question.
Researcher’s stance/posture
The author of the research acts as a detached observer interested in relevant data. He collects information about the question under consideration and processes it to formulate regularities and generalize about particular tendencies peculiar to the modern sphere of education and lectures attendance. At the same time, he does not interfere with the analyzed aspects as he is interested incredible facts that describe the current situation. For this reason, no experiment or additional research was conducted.
Research paradigm
The nature of the investigated issue presupposes the choice of a particular research paradigm that will help to research the nature of the reality and answer the question “What is it?”. In other words, the researcher utilizes the ontological research paradigm. Several factors are proving this idea. First of all, the author is interested in real numbers that describe learners attendance and absenteeism. In such a way, more emphasis is given to the idea of the relevance of information, not to how it can be collected.
Moreover, the use of the ontological research paradigm can be proven by the fact that the author wants to answer questions about the existing tendencies in the sphere of education. He aims at the determination of the number of absentees and their impact on the development of the sphere and academic successes. The given questions can be considered regarding the suggested paradigm as they focus on the existing reality and its nature. In other words, what is the exact number of students who attend lectures and how they might impact the overall state along with the final results?
Altogether, the adherence to the given research paradigm becomes the only possible way to investigate the researched issue and provide credible data regarding the state of attendance in the sphere of education and the number of absentees at lectures. For this reason, the author becomes able to generalize using the appropriate methodology to make his assumptions.
In what ways does the study improve upon previous research?
The given study contributes to the improved understanding of the processes within the sphere of education. The fact is that the author investigates the aspect that has remained untouched before this very study. For this reason, the ideas suggested by the research can be considered fresh. That is why collecting real data about students who visit lectures, the investigator improves the previous research work that was mainly focused on factors preventing learners from attending educational establishments or reasons for their absence. The given work can be used in new projects as the basis for further cogitation about the relevance of traditional forms of studying or the necessity of lectures in a way they are held. This fact perfectly demonstrates the papers significant contribution to the research in this field.
Reference
Romer, D. (1993). Do students go to class? Should they? Journal of Economic Perspectives, 7(3), 167-174.