This book explores best practice approaches to undertaking enquiry into learning and teaching in higher education for staff from all academic disciplines. A general introduction to the methods most commonly used in undertaking enquiry in the field of education is complemented by chapters exploring how research methods from a range of disciplinary areas can be adapted and used for educational enquiry. New to this second edition: * Chapters on interdisciplinary educational enquiry in geography and using ethnographic methods for educational enquiry * New case studies and suggested activities * A reflective final chapter inviting readers and their institutions to develop and promote an organisational culture founded on critical enquiry This is essential reading for anyone undertaking HE qualifications in learning and teaching (including PGCTLHE and PGCAP) and for academics wishing to apply their skills of research and enquiry to their learning and teaching practice.

This book explores best practice approaches to undertaking enquiry into learning and teaching in higher education for staff from all academic disciplines. A general introduction to the methods most commonly used in undertaking enquiry in the field of education is complemented by chapters exploring how research methods from a range of disciplinary areas can be adapted and used for educational enquiry. New to this second edition: * Chapters on interdisciplinary educational enquiry in geography and using ethnographic methods for educational enquiry * New case studies and suggested activities * A reflective final chapter inviting readers and their institutions to develop and promote an organisational culture founded on critical enquiry This is essential reading for anyone undertaking HE qualifications in learning and teaching (including PGCTLHE and PGCAP) and for academics wishing to apply their skills of research and enquiry to their learning and teaching practice.

'Researching young people's lives will be useful to both the novice researcher and anyone interested in learning about new methods of practice' - Youth Studies Australia Researching Young People's Lives provides an overview of some of the key methodological challenges facing youth researchers and an introduction to the broad repertoire of methods used in youth-orientated research. The book is split into two sections. In the first half of the book, the authors consider the broad methodological and contextual concerns of relevance to the design and conduct of youth research, including ethical issues, the importance of context, and the rise of participatory approaches to youth research. The second part of the book focuses on the use of specific research methods in the conduct of youth research, ranging from surveys and secondary analysis through to interviewing, ethnography, visual methods, and the use of the internet in youth research. Throughout the book, the emphasis is on research in practice, and examples are drawn from recent youth research projects from a wide range of disciplines and substantive areas, and from a range of both UK and non-UK contexts. This is an ideal introduction to the field for novice researchers, in particular students studying and researching in the broad area of youth studies. It should also appeal to practitioners engaged in evaluation of service provision to young people, and to established youth researchers who might wish to explore the potential of using a different set of methods to those with which they are already familiar.