Methodological Issues in Research on MOOCs

The raise of attention to the relatively new phenomenon of MOOCs has put them at the cutting edge of the debate on networked teaching and learning. Research on MOOCs seems to have overcome the exploratory phase, and is approaching a consolidation of themes and objectives. However, little attention has been paid to methodological issues in MOOCs research. Furthermore, the methodological approaches most widely adopted in this area could cast out conclusions, which should be reconsidered either from a critical theoretical point of view, or from studies of empirical replication. In this paper the authors have reviewed fifty-seven journal articles on MOOCs in order to analyze the methodological approaches most commonly adopted in this field of research. The results have been initially grouped, taking into consideration the traditional methodological classification: quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods, design-based research, literature review, theoretical contribution. Furthermore, the methods adopted within the above mentioned approaches have been considered. In order to deepen on the understanding about the methodological approaches, the conceptual model "full cycle of educational research", with its seven phases has been adopted to classify the several articles reviewed. On these basis, the authors analyze the "methodological trends" within the field of MOOCs. The purpose is to show gaps and criticalities as well as to suggest future directions for selecting methodological approaches in the field of MOOCs research.