When conducting academic research it is imperative that researchers identify the theoretical and philosophical framework they are embracing. This helps the reader develop a contextual understanding of the study and appreciate how the results are analyzed and interpreted. The purpose of a theoretical research framework is to help researchers structure their observations, identify biases, and provide a means to analyze and interpret their data. More importantly, these frameworks provide an environment in which researchers can reflect on their experiences and internalize their findings. It is my intent to define constructivism as a framework for research and pedagogy, identify the relative strengths and weaknesses of this approach, and analyze articles that employ a constructivist methodology. Constructivism, both as a pedagogical and research model, helps researchers and students better understand and build on the knowledge and experiences around them. This approach is based on the belief that individuals construct knowledge based on the social and environmental experiences they face. As a research methodology, constructivists tend to focus on narrating participants' experiences to develop a theory that explains a phenomenon (Mackenzie & Knipe, 2006). This view is shared by Mills, Bonner, and Francis (2006), who show that individuals are influenced by their historical and current contexts, which in turn influence their views and understanding of experiences. In short, we are subjective beings who will interpret and construct knowledge in our individual ways. In research, the constructivist approach is used to induce theories based on our interpretation of the research experience. Constructivist design is often classified as a g... middle of paper... Teacher Preparation: Outlining the Theory Half Ground. International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 23(1), 60-71.Ciampa, K. (2012). Electronic storybooks: A constructivist approach to improving reading motivation in first grade students. Canadian Journal Of Education, 35(4), 92-136. Podcasting http://www.ifets.info/journals/15_4/16.pdfLevin, T., & Nevo, Y. (2009). Exploring teachers' views on learning and teaching in the context of a transdisciplinary curriculum. Journal Of Curriculum Studies, 41(4), 439-465. Wildemuth, B. (1993). Post-positivist research: two examples of methodological pluralism. Library Quarterly, 63450-468. ANUMBE EJ471252 http://www.jstor.org/stable/4308866 http://web.b.ebscohost.com.login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=2fe65cdc-263f-412a -afd2-c2adfbaccb68%40sessionmgr113&vid=2&hid=103