Educational Research in Practice

Joanna Swann is a Popperian philosopher of learning and method, known internationally for her innovative theoretical and practical explorations of the implications of evolutionary epistemology for teaching and education research. Formerly a Principal Lecturer at the University of Brighton, UK, she is now a freelance author. John Pratt is Emeritus Professor of the Centre for Institutional Studies at the University of East London, UK, and Visiting Professor at the University of Brighton, UK.

"'In the course of the exchanges interesting new light is thrown on some of the fundamental methodological divisions within educational research today.' Professor Martyn Hammersley, The Open University; 'This is a good book, offering a fresh and coherent view, which will be useful to students and indeed academics.' Professor Tyrrell Burgess, University of East London; '... the dialectic approach adopted really helps draw out the central issues.' Professor Richard Bailey, Canterbury Christ Church University College"

• Part I: An Introduction to Educational Research in Practice; 1. Why You Should Read This Book Joanna Swann, King's College London and John Pratt, University of East London; 2. Making Sense of Methodology Joanna Swann and John Pratt; Part II: Different Approaches to Educational Research; 3. A Popperian Approach to Research on Learning Joanna Swann; 4. The Post-modern Prism: Fracturing Certainty in Educational Research Elizabeth Atkinson, University of Sunderland; 5. A Popperian Approach to Policy Research John Pratt; 6. Critical Approaches to Research in Practice Michael Collins, University of Saskatchewan, Canada; 7. Science in Educational Research William E. Tunmer, Jane E. Prochnow and James W. Chapman, Massey University, New Zealand; 8. Research in a Bicultural Context the Case of Aotearoa/New Zealand Patricia Maringi G. Johnston, Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi, New Zealand; 9. Case-Study Research Michael Bassey, Nottingham Trent University; Part III: Dialogues from a Research Community; 10. Decision-making in the Real World: Post-modernism versus Fallibilist Realism Elizabeth Atkinson and Joanna Swann; 11. Research and Social Improvement: Critical Theory and the Politics of Change Michael Collins and Joanna Swann; 12. Culture, Race, and Discourse Patricia Maringi G. Johnston and John Pratt; 13. How General are Generalizations? Michael Bassey and John Pratt; Part IV: Doing Good Research; 14. Principles for Good Practice John Pratt and Joanna Swann; Glossary: Some Important Research Terms and their Usage John Pratt and Joanna Swann; Index