152 Chapter 4 Why should TAR be considered the indicated method for investigating how a holistic approach to students could reinforce Christian citizenship formation for a modern, fragmented society? The initial choice of this method was briefly explained in the introduction to this dissertation. As a type of action research, TAR fits the central aim of producing concrete results for the teacher training curriculum. At the same time, TAR is theological by nature, just as this study aimed at fostering citizenship for a fragmented society from a (Reformed) Christian perspective, which—as the conclusion of Chapter 3 stated—is in fundamental need of a transcendental and theological approach. Moreover, TAR is empirically focused, but not in a hard, positivistic way, as it is flexible, open to change and reinterpretation, and holistic in and of itself, with the aim being not just analytic thinking but also a synthetic approach. In this methodological chapter, based on the topic of this study and the previously presented research question, the choice of TAR will be justified in depth (Section 1). Afterwards, its ramifications for the project will be outlined, starting with the design of a conversational community to perform the data collection and interpretation (Section 2). This second section will also focus on the role of the main researcher. Then, an overview of the different types of data collection methods, both quantitative and qualitative, and the corresponding means of interpretation will be provided (Section 3). Finally, some ethical considerations will be highlighted (Section 4) and some remarks made on the data analysis (Section 5). 4.1 JUSTIFICATION FOR THE USE OF TAR As explained in the introduction (Section 4), this study intends to engage in a constant back-and-forth movement between vision, intentions, design and practice—that is, between theory and practice. The theorical part presented in the previous chapters profited from the practical-empirical part of this study, which opens with this methodological chapter, just like the empirical part profited from the theoretical study. This part is entirely empirical and reports the procedure and finding of TAR. The action research and the corresponding reflection can be seen as a holistic approach in and of itself, as it strives for a continuous alignment of head (vision), heart (intentions) and hands (design and practice). It is aimed at bridging the gap between a faith-based vision and
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