ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a more theoretical view of the philosophies and concepts which underpin paradigms of research and the research methodologies which may be associated with them. It addresses issues relevant to educational research in general. The chapter discusses the definition of the research problem, various epistemological and paradigmatic aspects of research and discussing methodologies. The paradigm of inquiry an individual adopts and employs in a particular context is informed by a range of factors including personal beliefs, theoretical and philosophical perspectives, and contextual factors. The task of adopting appropriate research methodologies in investigations of the effectiveness of e-learning has been problematic for many educational researchers. Some educational researchers have refined their focus in educational environments to specific components of those environments and the individual learners within them. The use of experimental designs is problematic in e-learning environments because they represent complex systems in which a number of variables interact to influence learning processes and outcomes.
