How Science can Contribute to the Improvement of Educational Practice

Swann, Joanna

doi:10.1080/0305498032000080710

Cited by 14 publications

(12 citation statements)

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“…Theories are propounded on the basis to explain, predict and help understand occurrences and facts, and to some degree challenge and broaden existing knowledge within the limits of some bounding assumptions (Bartole, 2012;Swann, 2003). Every research is rooted in a theory that informed the problem, questions, and possibly the objectives of the study (Van der Vorm et al, 2009).…”

Section: Theoretical Framework Underpinning Taxation and Rate Of Compmentioning

confidence: 99%

Compliance with income tax administration among micro, small and medium enterprises in Ghana

Peprah

Abdulai

Agyemang-Duah

2020

Cogent Economics & Finance

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In a developing country like Ghana, Micro, Small, and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) play an important role in the socioeconomic development of the economy. Payment of income tax by MSMEs remains one of the key sources of government revenue for development activities in Ghana. However, not much is known regarding the compliance of MSMEs with income tax administration in Ghana. Understanding income tax administration compliance and associated challenges among MSMEs could assist relevant policy actors in designing strategies to improve income tax administration in Ghana. Against this background, a mixed-method study involving 210 (200 MSMEs and 10 key informants) sample was conducted to examine the compliance of MSMEs with income tax administration in the Nkwanta South District of Ghana. The study revealed a lack of tax education, high tax rate, low level of income, and high household consumption levels as the dominant and influential factors to tax compliance among the MSMEs. The study further showed that challenges associated with tax administration include low institutional capacity, inadequate resources, negative public attitude towards tax payment, lack of collaboration between the tax agencies, and political interference. Based on these findings, it is important for policymakers and tax collection institutions to strengthen and streamline existing measures to ensure effective income tax administration in Ghana.

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Section: Theoretical Framework Underpinning Taxation and Rate Of Compmentioning

confidence: 99%

Compliance with income tax administration among micro, small and medium enterprises in Ghana

Peprah

Abdulai

Agyemang-Duah

2020

Cogent Economics & Finance

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“…They formulate their problems by using questions such as: “How can […]?” Their answers, formulated in words, are: “By doing or not doing […]”. In contrast, the solution to a theoretical problem lies in a theory or set of theories, which can be divided into three categories: problems of value, problems of facts and problems of logic (Swann, 2003).…”

Section: Erosion Of Trust: Popper’s Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, the mould in the walls could present health risks to the claimants. Even though ignorance does not invariably prevent us from succeeding, Swann (2003) suggests that there is still much to gain from trying “to (a) avoid solutions to practical problems that embody erroneous assumptions about the effectiveness of the solution, unintended consequences, and the existence of better alternative solutions, and (b) advance our knowledge” (p. 262). These actions become even more important when a large number of people are affected by the decisions made.…”

Section: Applying Popper’s Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Overcoming irrationality: the Popperian approach

Chitpin

2017

IJEM

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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how associationism mistakenly assumes that direct experience is possible; that is, there is expectation-free observation and association without prior expectation. Thus, associationism assumes that learning involves the absorption of information from the environment itself. However, contrary arguments take the position that, for an individual to make a connection between his/her behaviour and its consequence(s), he/she must first have an expectation in order for a connection to be made. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses a personal experience to illustrate how implicit assumptions and unstated expectations can be found in the corporate world. It offers to answer questions that will lead to an examination of overcoming irrationality through utilization of the Popperian philosophy of associationism. Findings When evaluating a practice, it is easier to find evidence of some sort to support the practice, especially if we are either disposed to do so or if our colleagues and organizations have recommended that we adopt these practices. However, if we are committed to genuinely improving our practice, Swann (2009) suggests that we become critical and ask, “What are the unintended and undesirable consequences of doing things this way?” (p. 8). Research limitations/implications Popper’s approach needs to be developed or learned through stages and with time. We need to be aware that it takes time to master the use of this approach. Merely introducing or having organizations learn the different methods or short cuts have only a limited effect in improving their ability to deal with issues in different contexts. Practical implications The examples used throughout this paper illustrate that the adoption of Popper’s approach does not necessarily require large-scale experiments. In fact, a well-conducted case study can be effective in casting doubt on existing assumptions. Regardless of the nature of the research strategy and the scale of the experiment devised to test a hypothesis, the task of testing can and will be problematic. Social implications Expectations can make us look foolish from time to time, but they can also be very powerful or useful because they are more than mere anticipation. If we are unable to strip away our preconceptions or prior knowledge, we can at least acknowledge our biases and, in doing so, we may not continue to be trapped within our own perspectives, which can blind us to the truth. Originality/value The examples used in this paper illustrate that Popper’s approach is robust and applicable in a variety of contexts and is not limited to educational organizations. Furthermore, it showcases our irrationality, and helps us understand when and where we may make erroneous decisions.

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“…Theoretical problems, by contrast, are problems that exist only in a linguistic form: problems of what is/was/will be the case, what is good, what is aesthetically pleasing, what is logically valid, and why. The test of the solution to a practical problem involves addressing ‘What happened?’ or ‘What is happening?’, whereas the test of a solution to a theoretical problem involves addressing, ‘Is this theory true?’ and/or ‘Is this argument valid?’ (Swann, 2003a). Theoretical problems also include problems about practical problems.…”

Section: What Is Special About Human Learningmentioning

confidence: 99%

Learning: An evolutionary analysis

Swann

2009

Educational Philosophy and Theory

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This paper draws on the philosophy of Karl Popper to present a descriptive evolutionary epistemology that offers philosophical solutions to the following related problems: 'What happens when learning takes place?' and 'What happens in human learning?' It provides a detailed analysis of how learning takes place without any direct transfer of information from the environment to the learner, and it significantly extends the author's earlier published work on this topic. She proposes that learning should be construed as a special case of 'problem solving' and as a fundamentally critical and creative process in which learning organisms develop 'expectations' that are not purely an outcome of genetic inheritance or random mutation. Human learning is then characterised with reference to: objectified knowledge; descriptive and argumentative language; theoretical problems; the search for error and specific limitation. If the author's evolutionary analysis of learning is valid, it would suggest that we should, if we wish to promote learning, be wary of corralling children and older students in environments that inhibit autonomous activity, that discourage criticality and creativity and generally limit opportunities for trial and error-elimination. But education institutions, particularly those for older children and adolescents, are very often environments of this constraining kind. Traditionally, educationists have vastly underestimated the human potential for imaginative criticism-because in general they have not recognised the extent to which it lies at the heart of what humans, including the youngest children, do in order to succeed at even the most basic tasks.

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How Science can Contribute to the Improvement of Educational Practice

Cited by 14 publications

References 12 publications

Compliance with income tax administration among micro, small and medium enterprises in Ghana

Compliance with income tax administration among micro, small and medium enterprises in Ghana

Overcoming irrationality: the Popperian approach

Learning: An evolutionary analysis

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