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Key Issues for Education Researchers
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Key Issues for Education Researchers



June 2009 | 192 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
Doing a small-scale research project is a compulsory element of an Education Studies degree. This book will guide and support students through their research, offering practical advice on designing, planning and completing the research and on writing it up. It outlines the philosophical approaches underpinning research, and talks through techniques in both quantitative and qualitative methods, how to design research instruments, and the collecting and analyzing of data.

Chapters cover:

- Research paradigms and social perspectives

- 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 very suitable for those doing masters courses in education, students on initial teacher training programs and of interest to others, such as classroom assistants, studying education on foundation degrees.

 


 
The Development of Education Research
 
Research paradigms and social perspectives
 
An ethical approach to research
 
Getting Started: beginning a research project
 
Accessing and using literature
 
Research strategies: case studies and experiments
 
Questionnaires
 
Interviews
 
Observation
 
Research biographies and logs
 
Use of existing documents
 
Writing up and final conclusions

I really like the practical parts of this book - the chapters on research approaches and specific methods are very clear and helpful for students. The chapter on research paradigms and social perspectives is probably less so: it's hard to write about these concepts simply, and I'm not sure that the chapter is that useful. However, it's still a helpful volume. Students on Education 4 are familiar with 'Introduction to Education Studies' by the same authors as it's essential reading in an earlier module, and I think they'll recognise the 'voice' and so be able to engage with it straight away.

Dr Shereen Benjamin
Dept of Educational Studies, Edinburgh University
April 23, 2012

I am starting to plan for the reading for a possible Masters programme. This book will be included in my essential reading. It appears to be an excellent introductory book with further suggested reading for the student. For the student getting to grips with terms and vocabulary, it is ideal. For me as the teacher, it provides some activities that I may use in class as this is a subject area I have not taught before. The idea of checklists, summaries and examples is particularly helpful to both the student and for me. From a practical point of view it is light to carry and is an ideal study book to read on the train etc.

Mrs Nicola Sowe
NBS Consultancy and Training, NBS Consultancy and Training (Teaching and Learning)
January 20, 2012

Another good all round text covering research methodology and methods. The authors adopt a down-to-earth approach and talk through the issues in an accessible manner, providing advice and aids such as useful checklists and detailed examples. The student activities are also useful from a tutor's point of view and assist in making the learning process a little more practical.

Mrs Claire Dean
DEpt of Teaching, Health & Care, Bradford College
February 23, 2011

This book is an excellent essential course text book. It covers everything a student needs to know for our undergraduate 'Researching Education' course. In fact, I couldn't ask for a better book!

Dr Katherine Cartmell
Science and Humanities, Burnley College
December 1, 2010

an excellent resource for students studying research skills

Ms Louise Lawson
Secondary and Tertiary Care Group, Hertfordshire University
October 25, 2010

A very good support text for educational research modules

Dr Jane Bulkeley
Education , Glyndwr University
September 8, 2010

A useful basic text which provides u/g dissertation students with sound advice. This text complements other books on our list, giving students a different perspective.

Ms Jane Murray
School of Education, Northampton University
July 27, 2010

An excellent and useful book - really easy to read and very appropriate for undergraduate researchers!

Mrs Annie Ostapenko-Denton
Community Studies, Truro College
February 10, 2010

This is a really excellent book covering all the key areas for students undertaking research. It gives background information on paradigms and perspectives as well as covering the practical side of data gathering. This will be a highly recommended book for students.

Mrs Emma Richer
BCCHES, City of Bristol College
January 2, 2010

too broad, not specific enough

Ms Sam Chenery-morris
Health , university campus suffolk
December 1, 2009
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