Research Methods in Educational Leadership and Management

Book excerpt: 'The book is notably successful in the way it combines a review of the principles and methods of research with recent advances in the field... The editors' claim that it is core reading for those undertaking masters and doctoral level research is well met.' - School Leadership and Management `Success of this book is measured by the clarity and coverage of key principles for developing research. The audience is treated to an engaging primer that covers all aspects of research. By commencing with epistemology, ontology and methodology in a non-threatening fashion, a tone is set that guides the reader through the technical aspects of research in a friendly fashion' - Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management `In a competitive field of educational research methods this book offers those interested in educational leadership and management an alternative conceptualization of research methods, and will no doubt help those researching in this field' - Gill Nicholls, British Journal of Educational Studies `It can be strongly recommended as an introductory text for students engaged in virtually any field of educational research and readers of this journal should not be deterred by its specialist title' - Eric Hoyle, Escalate `The attempt to contextualize methodology does make the work more accessible than other more general texts, and it will therefore be particularly useful to those beginning to develop a research approach to their professional context' - Sue Crowley, Learning and Skills Research `There are many texts and courses on research methods. Each university will have a handful covering the full range of types of research. What differentiates this book for Association for Tertiary Education Management (ATEM) members is the inviting focus on the education sector. A consistent theme differentiates and explains the nuances of positivist and phenomenological research. By comparing and contrasting qualitative and quantitative methods, the reader can confidently place where their own research question sits. The text brought me to the point of being clear what are the issues that required deeper thought and the method to access further literature'- Micheal Koorndyk, University of Adelaide, Australia This book is the essential guide to research in educational leadership and management. It brings together expert original contributions to present a comprehensive and accessible resource for new and experienced researchers in the field. The book deals with: - the concept of research and its philosophical bases - fundamental issues like ethics, validity and reliability - exploring existing literature to inform research - the nature of survey, case study and action research - research tools: interviews, questionnaires; documentary research and diaries; observation - analysis and presentation of quantitative and qualitative research data - writing up and disseminating research This book is a core text for master's level courses in educational management. It is accessible for the beginning researcher, while at the same time providing stimulating reading for students and practitioners with some research experience.