RSE4801 Assignment 3 (COMPLETE ANSWERS) 2026 - DUE 14 August 2026

Total Marks :100 You intend to use a survey research project to establish the opinions of learners about school discipline. Include the following in your essay: • Define what a research paradigm is. In the context of your research, which five specific aspects of your research are influenced by the paradigm? Every paradigm rests on four pillars. Mention and discuss each of the four pillars of a research paradigm. In a table, compare the positivist paradigm and the interpretivist paradigm. A brief account of the issue of discipline in schools, including your own context and experiences. (200 words) • An explanation of survey research including a discussion of information (data) generation and sampling. (700 words) • Formulation of a problem statement (100 words) • A Likert scale with five questions and five possible answers. The questions need to establish learner perceptions of discipline in the school. (100 words) • Critically reflect on the insights you hope to gain in this project, and on the value of survey research. (200 words) Question 2 You plan an action research project which aims at improving your questioning techniques in the classroom. Provide your planning based on the following aspects: • A brief account of the role of questioning in pedagogy. (200 words) • Briefly explain the difference between methodology and methods in research. Describe the differences between qualitative research and quantitative research in a table. An explanation of action research including the action research process. (700 words) • An explanation of how you would use action research to reflect on and improve your questioning techniques. (500 words) • A reflection on the value of this research type (action research) for your professional development as an educator. (100 words) Question 3 You want to use (critical) discourse analysis (CDA) to investigate whether and how school textbooks promote indigenous knowledges. Explain what you plan to do on the basis of the following: • A brief discussion of the issue of indigenous knowledges in education in South Africa. (100 words) • A problem statement. (100 words) • A description and justification of the two textbooks you will investigate. (100 words) • A detailed discussion of (critical) discourse analysis in which you address the following: o Basic assumptions and key authors. (900 words) o Briefly describe the characteristics of the positivist paradigm and provide one example. Briefly describe the characteristics of the post-positivist paradigm and provide one example. Briefly describe the characteristics of the constructivist paradigm and provide one example. Briefly describe the characteristics of the interpretivist paradigm and provide one example. Briefly describe the characteristics of the pragmatist paradigm and provide one example. Briefly describe the characteristics of critical realism and provide one example. Briefly describe the characteristics of critical theory and provide one example. Briefly describe the characteristics of the transformative paradigm and provide one example. What is postmodernism, and what constitutes it? How is postmodernism similar to or different from positivism? How is postmodernism similar to or different from interpretivism? How is postmodernism similar to or different from critical theory? Why is it important to explain your paradigm? What is your understanding of the concept of coloniality? Briefly discuss Grosfoguel’s model of coloniality using the concept of coloniality of power. Briefly discuss Grosfoguel’s model of coloniality using the concept of coloniality of being. Briefly discuss Grosfoguel’s model of coloniality using the concept of coloniality of knowledge. What is decoloniality, and what constitutes it? Explain how decoloniality is applicable to educational research. Research methods. (300 words) • A reflection on the value of CDA for this kind of research. (100) Question 4 Describe the central features of quasi-experimental research and discuss in detail an example of such a research project you have constructed yourself. Reflect on the value of this research type. What is meant by a research worldview? How does a research paradigm guide the way a researcher understands reality? Which parts of a research project are shaped by the researcher’s chosen paradigm? Why must a researcher clearly explain the paradigm used in a study? What is the meaning of ontology in educational research? How does epistemology influence what a researcher accepts as valid knowledge? What role does axiology play in the research process? How does methodology connect a research paradigm to the methods used in a study? What is the difference between a research approach and a research method? How do interviews, questionnaires and observations differ as research methods? How does qualitative research help researchers understand people’s experiences? Why does quantitative research depend strongly on measurement and numerical data? Under which circumstances can qualitative and quantitative methods be combined? How does the positivist paradigm understand reality and knowledge? Why do positivist researchers often prefer experiments, surveys and statistical analysis? How does interpretivism help researchers understand meanings created by participants? Why is the social setting important within interpretivist research? How does post-positivism differ from traditional positivism? Why do post-positivist researchers accept that complete objectivity may be impossible? How does constructivism explain the development of knowledge? What is the role of interaction between the researcher and participants in constructivist research? How does pragmatism guide the choice of research methods? Why does pragmatism focus mainly on finding practical answers to research problems? What does critical realism suggest about visible events and hidden social structures? How can critical realism be used to study unequal educational outcomes? How does critical theory examine power, inequality and oppression? How can critical theory support change within disadvantaged schools and communities? What is the main purpose of the transformative research paradigm? How does transformative research include the voices of people who are often excluded? What is postmodernism in the context of educational research? Why does postmodernism question universal truths and fixed meanings? How does postmodernism challenge the claim that research can produce completely objective knowledge? What common ideas are shared by postmodernism and interpretivism? How does postmodernism differ from critical theory in its approach to social change? Define what a research paradigm is. In the context of your research, which five specific aspects of your research are influenced by the paradigm? Every paradigm rests on four pillars. Mention and discuss each of the four pillars of a research paradigm. In a table, compare the positivist paradigm and the interpretivist paradigm. Positivist Paradigm Interpretivist Paradigm Briefly explain the difference between methodology and methods in research. Describe the differences between qualitative research and quantitative research in a table. Qualitative Research Quantitative Research Briefly describe the characteristics of the positivist paradigm and provide one example. Briefly describe the characteristics of the post-positivist paradigm and provide one example. Briefly describe the characteristics of the constructivist paradigm and provide one example. Briefly describe the characteristics of the interpretivist paradigm and provide one example. Briefly describe the characteristics of the pragmatist paradigm and provide one example. Briefly describe the characteristics of critical realism and provide one example. Briefly describe the characteristics of critical theory and provide one example. Briefly describe the characteristics of the transformative paradigm and provide one example. What is postmodernism, and what constitutes it? How is postmodernism similar to or different from positivism? How is postmodernism similar to or different from interpretivism? How is postmodernism similar to or different from critical theory? Why is it important to explain your paradigm? What is your understanding of the concept of coloniality? Briefly discuss Grosfoguel’s model of coloniality using the concept of coloniality of power. Briefly discuss Grosfoguel’s model of coloniality using the concept of coloniality of being. Briefly discuss Grosfoguel’s model of coloniality using the concept of coloniality of knowledge. What is decoloniality, and what constitutes it? Explain how decoloniality is applicable to educational research. What is the difference between colonialism and coloniality? How does coloniality remain present after formal colonial rule has ended? How does coloniality of power influence education, employment and social opportunities? How does coloniality of being affect people’s dignity, identity and sense of belonging? How does coloniality of knowledge influence school curricula and university research? Why are Western knowledge systems often given more value than African and Indigenous knowledge? What is epistemicide, and how is it linked to coloniality of knowledge? What is meant by decolonial thinking? Which actions and ideas form part of decoloniality? How does decoloniality differ from simply rejecting all Western knowledge? Why is the use of local languages important in decolonial educational research? How can researchers treat community members as knowledge partners rather than only research participants? How can Indigenous knowledge be included respectfully in educational research? How can decolonial research benefit the schools and communities involved in a study? Why should researchers reflect on their own identity, background and position during a decolonial study? How can educational research challenge unequal power relations and support social justice?