Much vocational education research has been guided by a positivistic paradigm, although the latter has several serious problems. An alternative, postpositivism, challenges the objectivity of empirical facts, posits the underdetermination of theory by logic and experience, and rejects the distinction between facts and values. (SK)

While the rationalistic approach traditionally employed in research and development efforts in the social sciences may be the best method of inquiry to use in the physical sciences, social scientists, and, more particularly, vocational education researchers, would do better to adopt a naturalistic method of research. The naturalist approach to…

Issues pertaining to knowledge traditions that are important to the reform of higher education in Sweden are considered. While nonacademic parts of higher education (e.g., vocational/technical, nursing) account for more than half of its admissions, it is suggested that thinking regarding higher education in recent years has used the ideals of the…