Coll, Richard K.Kalnins, Tatiana Irina2011-06-162011-06-162009Coll, R.K. & Kalnins, T. (2009). A critical analysis of interpretive research studies in cooperative education and internships. The Journal of Cooperative Education and Internships, 43(1), 1-13.https://hdl.handle.net/10289/5398Much research in co-op has utilized a quantitative or experimental approach within a positivist paradigm. Here we present a critical analysis of interpretive/qualitative studies in terms of output, diversity, quality, along with an overview of the topics investigated. Our analysis suggests that interpretive work is a substantial part of co-op research output, and that is spans a wide range of programs, disciplines and geographical locations. Similar themes to those investigated by a quantitative approach are investigated by interpretive researchers, but there is emphasis in interpretive work on understanding more details of co-op issues in relation to the educational context.application/pdfenThis article has been published in the journal: The Journal of Cooperative Education and Internships. Used with permission.interpretivequalitativecritical analysisco-opinternshipsJournal Article