1st Edition
Practical Research Methods in Education An Early Researcher's Critical Guide
Practical Research Methods in Education is a hands-on guide which critically explores and scrutinizes research methods used in educational enquiry. Drawing on the research, practical experience and reflections of active researchers, each chapter offers explanations, examples, tasks for students to undertake and suggestions for further reading, all of which are designed to strengthen understanding of practical methods of data collection in educational and social-science research.
This insightful book offers:
- Detailed illustration of a range of data-collection methods and approaches used in educational research
- Chapters written by active researchers, experienced in addressing challenges of carrying out practical research in education
- Examples, study tasks and suggestions for further reading in each chapter
- An exploration of critical reflection and decision-making in relation to research methodology in education
- Close attention to research ethics
Exploring practical methods of data-collection for educational and social-science research, Practical Research Methods in Education is a unique and valuable resource for any students interested and engaged in the planning and completion of their own investigations.
Contents
List of figures and tables
Contributors
Foreword
Jyothsna Latha Belliappa
Editor’s introduction
Mike Lambert
Importance of research methodology · This book · The chapters
1. Using questionnaires
Brendan Bartram
Introduction · Merits and limitations · Ethics · Using written questionnaires · Using online questionnaires · Using a word-association questionnaire · Conclusion
2. Using interviews
Jo Winwood
Introduction · Interviews · My research · Interview schedule · Conducting interviews · Analysing interview data · Ethics · Conclusion
3. Observations
Tunde Rozsahegyi
Introduction · Observation in educational research · Participant or non-participant? · Structured or non-structured? · Validity and ethics · Observation in my own research · Conclusion
4. Involving children
Mike Lambert
Introduction · My research · Involvement · To what extent could I understand the data? · What about ‘power’? · And what about ethics? · Conclusion
5. Using video as data
Marte Blikstad-Balas
Introduction · Benefits · Ethics · Challenges · Conclusion
6. Using quantitative data
Michael Jopling
Introduction · What is quantitative research? What are quantitative data? · Three types of quantitative design · Analysing quantitative data · Descriptive statistics · Inferential statistics · Conclusion
7. Document analysis
Jane O’Connor
Introduction · Discourse and document analysis · Using document analysis in a research project · Data collection · Analysis and findings · Discussion · Conclusion
8. ‘Doing text’: Madness in the methods
Julian McDougall
Introduction · Ways of seeing research · The third (research) space? · Creative visual methods · We need to talk about Maggie · Wiring the audience · Digital transformations · (Negatively) Benefits Street · Hunger by the Sea · Comrades and curators · Doing text · Wrapping up
9. Q-methodology: A science of subjectivity
Gavin Rhoades and Zeta Brown
Introduction · What is Q-methodology? · Developing a Q study · Elements of Q · Factor analysis · Additional research methods · Use in an undergraduate dissertation · The ‘Explore University’ Q evaluation · Conclusion
10. Mosaic: Participatory research in the early years
Helen Lyndon
Introduction · Using Mosaic · Stage 1: Children and adults gather evidence · Stage 2: Dialogue, reflection, interpretation · Stage 3: Deciding areas of continuity and change · Strengths and limitations · Conclusion
11. Ethnography
Joke Dewilde
Introduction · Ethnography · Stages · My ethnography · Connecting to theory · Ethical issues · Some recommendations · Conclusion
12. Case study
Tunde Rozsahegyi
Introduction · What is case study? · Implementing case study · Conclusion
13. Grounded theory
Mike Lambert
Introduction · Grounded theory · Examples · Choosing grounded theory · Issue 1: How to use the literature? · Issue 2: Theory or ‘persuasive perspective’? · Outcomes · Conclusion
Closing words
Index
Biography
Mike Lambert was Principal Lecturer in Education at the University of Wolverhampton, UK, where he developed a two-year undergraduate course on doing educational research. He has supervised the research work of many undergraduate and postgraduate students.
"Practical Research Methods in Education provides students engaging in or considering postgraduate study a refresher course by revisiting concepts and methodology in education research... Every chapter is well-written, thoroughly explained, and will be of use to novice researchers, those considering postgraduate studies, those needing concise and clear term definitions, and those looking to expand their research knowledge from second language acquisition to education in general." - Nicole Moskowitz, Jalt Journal: The research journal of the Japan Association for Language Teaching