A life history study of the factors that influence the acceptance or rejection of the Big Bang theory and theory of biological evolution among lifelong learners. 20 interview transcripts.

How to cite this Dataset

Blagrove, I.S.G. (2023): A life history study of the factors that influence the acceptance or rejection of the Big Bang theory and theory of biological evolution among lifelong learners. 20 interview transcripts. University of Reading. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.17864/1947.000447

Description

The nature of the problem to be studied is the continuing rejection of the Big Bang theory and the theory of biological evolution by a minority of lifelong learners despite the time that has elapsed since the original theories were proposed and their acceptance by the scientific community. Having examined various approaches, the researcher considered the appropriateness of a life history methodology. No other approach provided the methodology that was necessary to systematically study the factors from early childhood to late retirement that influence the acceptance or rejection of the Big Bang theory and biological evolution among life-long learners in a chronological data collection process. To select participants for this research, the researcher utilised purposive sampling to establish a correspondence between research question and sampling so that individuals who are relevant to the research question are interviewed. The researcher selected 10 purposive sampling individuals for this study, undertaking a total of 20 interviews, 2 interviews per individual. The life history approach can use structured, semi-structured and unstructured interviews as there is no lockstep approach, and for this study a semi-structured format of interviews was devised using a mixture of prompting open and closed questions, around the main issue of the study to reveal insight into the factors that influence the acceptance or rejection of the Big Bang theory and theory of biological evolution among lifelong learners. A two-stage interview procedure was devised. The research tools that enabled the study consisted of the interview venues, the raw data collection devices, and the qualitative data software. Subsequently any handwritten interviews notes, typed notes or recordings were transcribed to the computer software word processing package Microsoft Office 365. The ethical issues arising from the research were ones of informed consent, confidentiality, recording, quoting extracts and participant emotions. These ethical issues were firstly addressed by ensuring that informed consent was obtained before each interview. Confidentiality and quoting extracts were addressed by protective pseudonyms and anonymising place names, teachers, family members and groups. It was possible for the researcher to take notes, type, or record answers depending on the preference of the interviewee. The 20 interview notes typed answers or recordings were subsequently transcribed to the word processing package Microsoft Office 365. All interview data is held securely by Research Data Service, University of Reading. All ethical considerations were acknowledged and the guidelines of the University of Readingï¿½s ethical procedures in research were followed at all times.

Resource Type:

Dataset

Creators:

Blagrove, I.S.G.

Rights-holders:

I.S.G. Blagrove

Data Publisher:

University of Reading

Publication Year:

2023

Data last accessed:

14 April 2024