Introduction:
1. Becoming a researcher
2. A research report format: having a destination and a route
3. Where to start: with theory or practice?
4. Asking the research question
5. Putting the research question to work: part 1 - developing observation guides
6. Putting the research question to work: part 2 - developing interview guides
7. Writing the research plan
8. Reviewing the research process
9. Organising the research data
10. Analysing the data
11. Evaluating the research report
Appendix 1: A format for structuring the research report
Appendix 2: Why research in real time matters
Suggested further reading
References
Biography
Clive Millar taught English at high schools in Cape Town and in rural Scotland. He became a lecturer at Aberdeen College of Education and at the University of Cape Town, Professor of Education at the University of Fort Hare, and Professor of Adult Education and Director of Extra-mural Studies at the University of Cape Town until his early retirement in 1998. He was invited to introduce a course in classroom research at the Centre for Creative Education in Cape Town and has enjoyed doing this for the last ten years.
Its accessibility, lucidity and brevity are real strengths, as so many titles in the field of doing classroom research, though often very good, are frankly way too detailed and arcane for the needs of busy classroom practitioners – they need the essential basics, framed simply but not simplistically. I think Clive manages this so well – he’s always written with such spare beauty.
Barry HymerIf I was back at university or doing classroom research again, this is a book I would welcome in my collection. It gives a good understanding of the purpose of research, both qualitative and quantitative, and who benefits. There are excellent links to inquiry and reading around the topics. I found it an easy read and not too long - just under 100 pages - making it very easy to dip in and out of as appropriate. There were useful examples linked to the content and drawn from actual research projects so carrying validity in the eye of the reader. This allows the reader to identify where they are and the best way forward in terms of research.
The summary of key points at the end of chapters was helpful and made easy reference points to go back to. Overall, a very well-structured book.
David Maynard, previously Director of The Cambridge Partnership
