This fifth edition of a bestselling textbook is thoroughly updated with more on current developments in research practice, action research, developments in ICT, questionnaire design, ethnographic research, conducting needs analysis, constructing and using tests, observational methods, reliability and validity, ethical issues, and curriculum research.

Chapters new to this edition cover: --

Based on the popular Introduction to Social Research Methods, this book offers a highly accessible, clear and engaging introduction to research in education, which has been carefully and extensively developed to fully meet the needs of those studying in education and related fields. Introduction to Research Methods in Education assumes no previous knowledge of the subject, and focuses on helping the reader develop a clear conceptual understanding of the nature of empirical research in education, and of how those ideas lead to, and underlie, the principal research techniques. Qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods approaches are covered, along with practical guidance on issues such as how to prepare a research proposal, write a literature review, and analyse different types of data. This book is an ideal introduction to researching in an educational context for students at both undergraduate and postgraduate level and will be a must-have for anyone studying on a research methods course or doing a research project for themselves.

Your #1 resource for carrying out educational research as part of postgraduate study. High-quality educational research requires careful consideration of every aspect of the process. This all-encompassing textbook written by leading international experts gives you considered overview of principles that underpin research, and key qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods for research design, data collection and analysis. This third edition includes four new chapters: Disseminating your research Data science and computational research methods Observational methods Analysis of variance (ANOVA) Plus a new Research essentials feature that highlights key ‘must-haves’ or misconceptions relating to each methodological approach, research design or analytical tool discussed. This is essential reading for postgraduate students on education courses and early career researchers looking to sharpen their research practice.

Accompanying CD-ROM contains ... "[t]he data sets that are used to illustratae statistical procedures in Chapters 16 and 17"--Page xvii.

What is research in education? And what is it for in a digital age? Reflecting upon these questions, this engaging introduction provides critical discussion about the dilemmas of researching education in the digital age and ways forward for research in this complex area. Research Methods for Education in the Digital Age begins by outlining forms of education that are seen as digital, such as virtual, blended, immersive learning and examining the extent to which these are different or just adapted versions of earlier methods and approaches to education. Maggi Savin-Baden and Gemma Tombs explore current practices in research, identifying the successful adoption and adaption of theories and present practical guidance on new and emerging methodologies, methods, and analytical practices for undertaking educational research. New methodologies discussed include digital arts-based inquiry and digital visual methodologies, as well as adaptations of widely used methodologies such as ethnography, for the specific needs of researching digital teaching and learning. The book outlines the major challenges faced by today's digital researchers, exploring approaches to digital ethics, the relationship between qualitative and quantitative data in the digital age, digital data representations and portrayal and suggests helpful ways of dealing with the complexities and ethical challenges of undertaking research in and for digital spaces. Using case studies, research tips, a glossary and annotated further reading, the authors take a step by step approach from conceptualizing the research ideas, selecting the appropriate method to the dissemination of the findings. At a time when education is changing rapidly with digital and technological advances, Research Methods for Education in the Digital Age is essential reading for researchers wanting to undertake sound and rigorous research in the digital domain.

This book has five main parts: the context of educational research, planning educational research, styles of educational research, strategies for data collection and researching and data analysis.