Methodology

This chapter presents and elaborates on methodological aspects concerning the entire book.Firstly, we make explicit the ontological and epistemological assumptions that informed our methodological choices, i.e., we build a consistent rationale for our research design. Secondly, we present the research methods used in the empirical studies which conform this book, whereas we defer a more detailed elaboration of the procedures to the corresponding Chaps. 4 and 5. Eventually, we describe the instructional context that hosted our empirical work. Next to the ‘thick description’ of the context and a discussion of its relevance, we explain the rationale for its selection in line with our research aims. In all, the analysis of the elements of the context, advances tools for generalisation of the research findings and conclusions.KeywordsResearch methodologyOntological and epistemological positioningResearch designEmpirical contextualisationAlternating school-based and work-based learningIndustrial chemical process technology