This is an extremely well written book which is insightful and informative. Most educators undertaking research projects in their schools or for award‐bearing courses have to understand how to do education research. The problem is that most education research books are impenetrable, written by academics for other academics or by academics who research on schools but have never worked in them or do not understand them. This book is a delightful exception. It is an accessible, step‐by‐step guide to both understanding educational research and most importantly how to undertake educational research in schools.
The chapters are organised in three main sections as follows:
- 1.
Think before you go. This section consists of three chapters which consider the benefits of practical research, clarifying the purpose of research and reviewing existing ideas and the literature.
- 2.
Planning and preparation. This section has six chapters which consider how to obtain access to undertake research, models and approaches to research, how to undertake surveys, observational techniques, deciphering documentation and action research. This is an outstanding section that gives clear frameworks for undertaking research that are a delight to read.
- 3.
Reporting‐making sense of the outcomes. This is split into three chapters: presenting findings, analysing and comparing evidence and finally identifying key findings and recommendations.
I could not recommend this book more highly; it is an outstanding introduction for those teachers undertaking school‐based research.
