ABSTRACT
Social science scholars aim for the advancement of knowledge and wisdom about people, individually and en masse. They engage in critical, systematic and creative enquiry within an ethical framework of respect for truth, respect for persons, and respect for democratic values. The researchers may engage in 'blue skies' research, of theoretical interest but with no immediate pay off, and of their own choosing. This depends upon Higher Education Funding Council (HEFC) funds which have been allocated on the basis of Research Assessment Exercises (RAEs). The community of school teachers has traditionally denied the value of educational research, often claiming that it is written in unintelligible language, or if intelligible tells nothing new. An important part of the research process is the writing of reviews, based on original articles and books. The chapter suggests that there are three main forms of compact writings such as: annotated bibliographies, academic reviews and user reviews.
