Language and Education, 7000 words

Theoretical framework

For this study, belief is conceptualised as an element of ‘cognition,’ in line with Kagan (1990), Calderhead (1996) and Borg (2003). This understanding of ‘cognition’ does not draw clear distinctions between knowledge, values and beliefs, but rather accepts that these are intertwined (Poulson et al. 2001). This broad definition has been operationalised using a model of belief based on the ideas proposed by Nespor (1987) and developed by Pajares (1992) which conceptualises beliefs as characterised by a number of elements: conceptual, affective, evaluative, and episodic. The model is also informed by Argyris and Schon’s distinction between espoused theories and theories-in-use (1974), particularly in the adoption of the term ‘espoused’ to characterise the beliefs articulated by the participant.