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TopTheoretical Framework
Social constructionism is the theoretical framework for this study. Social constructionists assume knowledge in nature is not objective and neither is it neutral. It is created in the local context and is gradually objectivated into institutionalized knowledge (Berger & Luckmann, 1967), and is shaped by multiple forces, such as law, regulations, technologies, cultural norms, etc. (Foucault, 1976/1978). Knowledge is the social product “accepted for the time being by members of the discourse community but subject to revision or change” (Prawat & Floden, 1994, p. 44). Murphy (1997) suggested that constructionism values multiple interpretations and accepts the one that can explain the phenomenon and guide our actions in certain contexts. The criterion to judge whether this product is true or not is to see if it fits the local context at a particular point in time. In the knowledge construction process, learners’ different perspectives will be filtered and woven by macro socio-cultural factors. These macro socio-cultural factors influence which perspectives will be selected and institutionalized into publicly accepted knowledge.
People view the world through a lens influenced by their culture, which leads them to select some things and to ignore others (Crotty, 1998). People adjust their behaviors through negotiating and mediating their needs, behaviors, attitudes and expectations from society (Bandura, 1977). Through observing, imitating and modeling others’ behaviors, attitudes, etc., people get ideas about which responses are most appropriate in which settings, and how new behaviors are formed (Bandura, 1977). For example, the new managers in an organization assimilate the new organization context by observing and imitating the behaviors of their seniors and direct supervisors (Park, & Hatmaker, 2013). In the knowledge construction process, learners usually learn those new skills, attitudes and knowledge which society values most. They adjust their behaviors through negotiating and mediating their needs and the expectations from society.