Key Issues for Education Researchers

Doing a small-scale research project is a compulsory element of an Education Studies degree. This book guides and support students through their research, offering practical advice on designing, planning and completing the research, collecting and analysing data and on writing up. It outlines the philosophical approaches underpinning research together with the key concepts and current debates in education research.

Chapters cover:

Research paradigms

Ethical approaches to research

Research methods including interviewing, questionnaires, observation and experiments

Research diaries and personal biography

Writing up your research

Each chapter includes points for reflection, encouraging students to explore different perceptions on the whole research project. Tasks in each chapter take readers through the process of designing and justifying their own research project.

Essential reading for education studies students, it will also be ideal for those doing masters courses in education, students on initial teacher training programmes and others, such as classroom assistants, studying education on foundation degrees.