Abstract

This paper is part of a larger study that aims to improve our understanding on how children make decisions while working with design and technology activities. This paper discusses the research methodology employed in the study. The survey was conducted through an action research approach and the paper explains and justifies the reasons why such an approach is appropriate for research in design and technology education, and particularly within the Cypriot educational system.

Introduction

The study attempts to explore how design and technology teachers in Cyprus support decision-making skills in their teaching, the opportunities that are included in the Cypriot curriculum and books, and what strategies children follow in order to take their design decisions in practice. Although the emphasis of the main study is on children’s decision-making strategies, the teachers’ role and the impact of the Cypriot national curriculum is also examined. The focus of the study is to understand the existing practice that is used in Cypriot Gymnasia (which corresponds to KS3  in UK) on the issue of decision-making. A graphical form of the framework of the study based on the literature review and the research questions is presented.