1. Why use a metaphoric framework for analysis?
Dr John Willison, School of Education, University of Adelaide

2. Research on Scientific Literacy
Nebulous
Contested
Depends on author’s ontology and epistemology
My focus was hands-on science

3. Scientific Literacy..

4. Dewey (1938/63)
When there are competing elements, come from a level deeper and more encompassing

5. Metaphors in Science Education

6. Metaphoric framework Eg Sfard’s (1996) Scribner (1986)
Learning as acquisition
Learning as participation
Scribner (1986)
Literacy as adaption
Literacy as power
Literacy as state-of-grace

7. Data

8. Tara’s story, my vignette

9. A ‘missing’ metaphor emerged…
From the data
From the literature
Slowly

10. The Emergent Metaphoric Framework
Student as recruit (similar to ‘acquisition’)
Implicit in the literature
Students as scientists (similar to ‘participation’)
Explicit on the literature
Student as judge
Middle ground

11. The metaphoric framework…
Framed the analysis of the data
Framed the analysis of the literature
Slowly

13. 16 years post PhD
The metaphoric framework continues to underpin much of my research
Why?
Flexibility
Adaptability
E.g. Wilmore and Willison, 2016 (Media)
Willison and Buisman-Pijlman 2016 (Medical Science)
Willison, Sabir and Thomas, 2016 (Business)

18. Questions
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a metaphorical framework in your research context?
How could you fashion a metaphoric framework?
What will your examiners/reviewers think of a metaphorical framework?

19. References
Dewey, J. (1938/1963). Experience and education. New York: Macmillan.
Roth, W. M. (1993). Metaphors and conversational analysis as tools in reflection on teaching practice: Two perspectives on teacher-student interactions in open-inquirey science. Science Education, 77(4),
Scribner, S. (1986). Literacy in three metaphors. In N. Stein (Ed.), Literacy in American schools: Learning to read and write (pp. 7-27). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Sfard, A. (1998). On two metaphors for learning and the dangers of choosing just one. Educational Researcher, 27(2), 4-13.
Tobin, K. (1990). Metaphors and images in teaching. Perth: Centre for School. Science and Mathematics.
Tobin, K., & LaMaster, S. U. (1995). Relationship between metaphores, beliefs and actions in a context of science curriculum change. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 32(3),
Willison, J. & Buisman Pijlman, F. (2016). Ph.D. prepared: Research skill development across the undergraduate years. International Journal for Researcher Development 7(1),
Wilmore, M. & Willison, J. (2016). Graduates’ evaluation of research skill development in undergraduate media education. Asia Pacific Media Educator 26 (1).
Willison, J., Sabir, F. & Thomas, J. (2016) Shifting dimensions of autonomy in students’ research and employment. Higher Education Research & Development, DOI: /