ABSTRACT

Educational researchers take a number of decisions that define the credibility and scope of their enquiry – the approaches they adopt, the strategies they employ, the methods they use and the ways they present their findings. This core text provides an easy-to-read, comprehensive introduction to educational research that will develop your understanding of research strategies, theories and methods.

Specifically written for undergraduate education studies students, the book guides you through the process of planning a research project, the different research methods available and how to carry out your research and write it up successfully. Highlighting the theoretical and methodological debates and discussing important ethical and practical considerations, the book is structured to help you tackle all the different aspects of your project from writing your literature review, designing a questionnaire and analysing your data to the final writing up. The book will give you the confidence and enthusiasm to discuss and write about your research effectively.

Features include:

  • extension tasks -- to introduce new material and encourage you to think critically
  • case studies -- with information on important studies and examples of research that have utilised specific approaches
  • practical advice and tips -- to help you relate the topics discussed to your own on-going project work
  • annotated further reading lists -- providing you with an opportunity to access more detailed and specific resources.

Part of the Foundations of Education Studies series, this timely textbook is essential reading for students undertaking a research methods course or a piece of educational research.

chapter 1|6 pages

Approaches to educational research

part 1|48 pages

Planning an education research project

chapter 2|7 pages

Choosing a topic and writing a proposal

chapter 3|9 pages

Reviewing the literature

chapter 4|8 pages

Sampling

chapter 5|11 pages

Data analysis

chapter 6|11 pages

Writing up

part 2|47 pages

Research strategies

chapter 7|9 pages

Surveys

chapter 8|10 pages

Experiments

chapter 9|8 pages

Case studies

chapter 10|10 pages

Ethnography

chapter 11|8 pages

Action research

part 3|55 pages

Methods of data collection

chapter 12|9 pages

Questionnaires

chapter 13|8 pages

Interviews

chapter 14|9 pages

Focus group interviews

chapter 15|10 pages

Observations

chapter 16|8 pages

Documents

chapter 17|9 pages

Using the internet

part 4|49 pages

Theorising research

chapter 18|8 pages

Using theories and concepts in research

chapter 19|8 pages

Evaluating methods

chapter 20|8 pages

The position of the researcher

chapter 21|11 pages

Ethical issues in educational research