Edited by Roslyn Cameron and Bobby Harreveld
(Central Queensland University)

Overview

The questions of 'what methodologies should be used in vocational education research?' and 'what are the most effective methodologies to use in diverse and dynamic contexts?' continue to be a challenge for researchers and research users.

How new methodologies can be applied in TVET - where new technologies, new ethical standards and new forms of knowledge and epistemologies arise - is presenting new scenarios for researchers.

The new environment including cyber and virtual research environments, trans-disciplinary projects and trans-national research all create new boundaries and opportunities for researchers.

The International Journal of Training Research (IJTR) calls for papers for a special issue to be devoted to contemporary methodological issues impacting on VET research as a research discipline.

Articles cover the following themes and sub themes:

• Innovative and emergent research approaches and designs
• e-Research
• Interdisciplinary research and research teams
• Mixed method research designs and issues arising from mixed methodologies
• Cross cultural research
• Ethical and moral issues in research
• Indigenous research methods
• Visual research methods
• Political, policy and funding constraints and enablers in research.

For example:

• Computer assisted data analysis- fusing qualitative and quantitative data
• Ethical issues related to authorship
• Metaphor analysis
• New frontiers in standardised survey interviewing
• Research platforms in the cloud
• Virtual research environments
• Developments and/or issues in quantitative data analysis techniques (e.g., SEM)

The editors have focussed on:

• Research articles analysing recent developments, problems, opportunities and recent applications taken in the area related to the theme of methodologies.
• Empirical analysis in the area of sub themes.

• Discussions, analysis and explorations on the topic of research methodology in VET research.