Literature reviews generally analyse and synthesis the evidence (or lack thereof) in a particular topic area and they are an increasingly popular form of scholarly activity. The scoping review is a popular literature review approach that has been adopted across the social and health sciences over the last fifteen years. With this upsurge in use,…

Purpose: The growing public interest in vocational education and training (VET), most recently since the economic crisis of 2007/2008, has led to an exponential increase in articles with a vocational focus, underscoring the need for review studies for the purposes of systematic knowledge aggregation, clarification and interpretation. We assume…

Intervention research is an important, yet often neglected, focus of social work scholars and investigators. The purpose of this article is to review significant milestones and recent advances in intervention research. Methodological and analytical developments in intervention research are discussed in the context of science and social work.…

Educational research developed initially using the natural science model based on the positivist tradition. Education was then seen as an application of the positivist science thus produced. This research could predict some effects but not explain the processes through which these effects came about. This exclusively numerical representation of…

This paper focuses on three main subjects: (1) monitoring quality of life (QoL) in old age; (2) international and interdisciplinary collaboration for QoL research; and (3) computer-based technology and infrastructure assisting (1) and (2). This type of computer-supported cooperative work in the social sciences has been termed eHumanities or…

This article draws out one of the core reasons why children should be conceived as active agents in research, particularly policy-related research. The main thesis is that policy inevitably projects and, to an extent, constitutes the subject identities of its intended objects--in this case, that of "children". Drawing on several bodies of…

The issue raised by the authors in this article question why studio art continues to be ignored as a site and source for research in art education. The necessity of the field to be able to participate within the research community in addressing cultural, social, educational and political concerns is acknowledged. It is argued, however, that the…

In vocational psychology, the person-environment fit concept remains viable, but should be expanded to include occupational choice and work adjustment. Research is needed on commonalities among interests, self-efficacy, personality, goals, and well-being. Both qualitative and quantitative research philosophies and methods are needed. (Contains 54…

Introduces a special issue devoted to methods of observing popular culture. Discusses briefly the articles included in the issue, and makes suggestions for other ways to approach the study of popular culture. Argues that methods of research are tied fundamentally to the questions asked, and the ways questions are asked are directed by theoretical…

Theoretical and methodological aspects of competition research are discussed, with special regard for evaluative criteria, major approaches, experimentation, and measurement. (DS)

Argues that recent attempts by followers of the critical theory school (Frankfurt) to resolve dilemmas experienced by the first critical theorists to give their notions of "substantive reason" any real meaning have failed. Also suggests reasons for the interest of North American sociologists in critical theory, despite these shortcomings. (DB)

In tracing the evolution of research methodology in the social sciences, the author notes that the quality of quantitative models outstrips the quality of data used with the models. He believes, however, that refinements in theory building will make prediction, forecasting, and social engineering possible. (Author/KC)

Major research directions for vocational psychology include diversity, use of new technology, organizational career development, and work adjustment over the life span. Issues include the role of qualitative methods and the appropriate disciplinary focus--closer to or beyond psychology. A challenge is attracting new researchers to the topic of…

Using historical and content analysis, the role of qualitative family research is examined. Results indicated it generally is ignored by contemporary social scientists. The argument is made that qualitative as well as quantitative research is indispensable to the progress of family social science. (Author/BL)

Points out essential problems and concerns which guide basic contemporary research on the state and society. Suggests that research should concentrate on five or six broad fields, including the theory of the state, connections between economic/social and political spheres, political-social consensus, and class relations. Research methodology is…