Place-based Methods for Researching Schools

Thomson, Pat/ Hall, Christine/ Nind, Melanie (Editor)

ISBN 10: 1474242898 / ISBN 13: 9781474242899

Published by Bloomsbury USA Academic, 2016

About this Item

276 pages. 8.50x5.50x0.75 inches. In Stock.

Seller Inventory # x-1474242898

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Place-based Methods for Researching Schools
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Academic
• Publication Date: 2016
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1474242898
• ISBN 13: 9781474242899
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Brand New
• Weight: 0.52 kilograms

About this title

Synopsis

Schools are complex institutions. They do not easily reveal themselves to researchers who rely on only one or two methods. Understanding a school, its neighbourhood and its students requires a researcher with a more complex repertoire of verbal, statistical and visual research strategies.

Place-Based Methods for Researching Schools shows how multiple methods can be used together to research schools, rather than dealing with decontextualised methods, one by one. Taking a novel theoretical approach to the school as a 'place', the book offers grounded illustrations of schools as places from real case study and ethnographic research conducted in both Australia and the UK. A practical guide, this book explores the on-the-ground questions researchers are likely to face in the order they are likely to face them. The chapters not only look at data generation approaches, but also address analysis of the data and writing about the school, topics that are often ignored. Methods explored for use include those drawn from urban planning and geography to explore neighbourhoods, visual surveys, mapping, classroom observation, ethnographic observation, interviews, focus groups, sociograms and linguistic corpora.

Including research tips from the authors, case studies, a glossary and annotated further reading list, this book is essential reading for students and scholars approaching their research project.

About the Authors

Pat Thomson is Professor of Education at the University of Nottingham, UK. She also directs the Centre of Advanced Studies (faculties of arts and social sciences). A former headteacher, she now focuses on arts, learning and change in educational and community settings.

Melanie Nind is Professor of Education at the University of Southampton, UK. She is Co-Director of ESRC National Centre for Research Methods and Co-Editor of the International Journal of Research & Method in Education.