Key Issues for Education Researchers

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

Diana Burton is Visiting Professor of Education at the University of Wolverhampton, having formerly led education research at the university. She has held senior leadership and professorial posts at 3 universities, including both Pro Vice-Chancellor for research and Dean of Education posts at Liverpool John Moores University. She was Head of School at Manchester Metropolitan University where she worked for many years leading teacher education programmes having originally been a secondary school teacher of Humanities for over a decade. Diana has a Masters and PhD in the field of Educational Psychology and continues to examine doctoral theses and advise education departments across the sector. She is the author of several education books and chapters and has written over 70 research articles on pupil learning, teacher development, teacher education policy, educating children with behavioural, emotional and social disadvantage and citizenship education. She is a fellow of the Royal Academy for the Society of the Arts and the Higher Education Academy and is an active member of the British Education Research Association, including as a committee chair.   Steve Bartlett is honorary research fellow at Liverpool Hope University. A former Professor of Education Studies and programme leader at the Universities of Wolverhampton and Chester, he led the development of the subject at undergraduate and postgraduate level for many years, chairing the Subject Benchmarking Review Committee for QAA. A founder member and the first Chair of the British Education Studies Association (BESA), he edited the BESA journal for several years. Steve taught Sociology at secondary level for fifteen years from the mid Seventies. Steve has a Masters and PhD in teacher professionalism and has supervised and examined many doctoral theses as well as externally validating and examining Education Studies at a number of Universities.He has written several education books and articles in the areas of research methods, lifelong learning, teacher development and gender.