Chapter 2. Research Design and Methodology 

This chapter describes how the data in the CISAER catalogue and the CISAER interviews 

were collected. Further, the instruments used for data collection are discussed along with the 

limitations of the research. 

Data Collection 

The catalogue data were collected from March 98 to February 99 and the interviews were 

conducted in the spring of 1999. The project partners were given responsibilities of collecting 

information from the regions of the world according to the following list: 

   Northern, Central, and Eastern Europe, Torstein Rekkedal and Morten Flate Paulsen 

   North America and UK, Robin Mason 

   Asia, Australia, and Africa, Desmond Keegan 

   South America and Southern Europe, Ana Dias 

These efforts to collect data resulted in 130 catalogue entries. Later, some more entries were 

received and presented in a separate file. These additions to the CISAER catalogue have not 

been subjected to an analysis here, but they are available via 

http://www.nettskolen.com/alle/in_english/cisaer

. 

The partners were able to conduct 72 interviews via e mail, telephone, and face to face 

meetings. 

In the following sections, the methologies used in each of the regions are presented. 

Northern, Central, and Eastern Europe 

Torstein Rekkedal and Morten Flate Paulsen have procured information to the catalogue via e 

mail to institutions and distribution lists and via presentations at conferences. 

E mail requests were posted to the following institutions: 

   EDEN, The European Distance Education Network 

   SOFF, The Norwegian Executive Board for Distance Education at University and College 

Level 

   CTU, The Danish National Centre for Technology Supported Learning 

   KK Stiftelsen, The Swedish Foundation for Knowledge and Competence Development 

E mail requests were posted to the following distribution lists: 

   Andrea, A Network for Distance Education Reporting from European Activities 

   DEOS, The Distance Education Online Symposium 

   IFIP s Working Group on informatics and ICT in secondary education 

Requests for registration were also procured in presentations at the following international 

conferences: 

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