Foundations of Educational Research

An introduction to the key concepts, theorists, terms and questions of educational research to give a firm grounding for study in this field.

Foundations of Educational Research will give you a solid grounding in education as a discipline, introducing the key concepts, theorists, and terms which underpin educational research from Dewey and Piaget, to ethics, ontology and bias. The book sets the scene for education as a field which emerges from psychology, sociology, anthropology, economics and history, and explores the difficulties and opportunities this creates for new educational researchers. You will be introduced to the many approaches within educational research, from applied linguistics to pedagogy, from child development to higher education, to comparative education and ed-tech. The key debates in the field are clearly explained, including the tensions between theory and method, and quantitative vs. qualitative approaches.

The book introduces all the key referents you will need as a new student of education, whether undergraduate or graduate level, as you begin your journey into educational research.