The Question
When does research begin?
All I needed was a topic.
When I wrote my bachelor thesis, I had no grand research plan. Diving led me to learning, and the literature led me to UTAUT2. The choice was pragmatic: the model was well researched, widely used, and gave me a stable foundation for learning empirical work.
Step by step
For my master thesis, I transferred technology acceptance to e-learning in vocational IT education. Today I would make some theoretical decisions differently. Back then, they matched what I knew and helped me develop my empirical skills.
The accidental finding
The turning point came later. An exploratory statistical analysis revealed a pattern suggesting that perceived understanding and readiness to apply might not fully coincide.
- not planned
- not hypothesis-driven
- no proof of a universal gap
It was a signal that could not be explained.
Where I stand today
I am not trying to confirm an existing assumption as quickly as possible. I first want to understand whether I am even asking the right question. That is why qualitative research, different perspectives and exchange with people from practice, education and academia are at the centre of my work.