| Abstract: | The modern world rests on the beliefs that activity can bring about improvements, that research can identify the actions which deliver improvements and that policy can set the framework for enabling these identified actions to take place. The triple null hypothesis postulates that all three beliefs are false. In the context of educational media, particularly in distance education, the triple null hypothesis states that: -
Media don't matter -
Research doesn't matter -
Policy doesn't matter This paper discusses possible relationships between the three null hypotheses. Media is used here as an example. Other examples might be teaching paradigms, staff development, etc. The general argument can apply to any activity: neither the activity itself, nor research on it nor policy on it matter. If the triple null hypothesis is true then there is a vacuum of pressure for action, research and policy. Practitioners, researchers and policy makers construct beliefs to fill the vacuum. |
