PR4101–Research and the Professional.docVIP

PR4101 – Research and the Professional Emma Kirby Hanham High School, Bristol June 2006  Introduction 3 What is the nature of the research you have chosen? 3 What are the aims and purposes of the research? 3 In what context was the research conducted? 3 Is the research question clear? How valid or worthwhile do you think it is? 4 What criteria could be used to evaluate the research? 4 Assumptions 5 What explicit assumptions has the researcher made about his/her epistemological and ontological paradigm? 5 What assumptions are implicit? 5 How do these affect the nature of the research? 6 Methodology 6 What methodological decisions have been made? Is a rationale offered for these decisions? 6 Data Collection 8 How was the data collected? 8 What issues are related to this? 8 How does the data collection relate to the aims of the research? 9 Are there any gaps in the data collection? 10 Data analysis 10 How was the data analysed? 10 How was it presented? 10 Are there any alternative analyses or explanations of the data? 10 Other issues 10 What ethical questions were addressed by the researcher (if any)? 10 What researcher effects were discussed and were potentially of concern? 11 Conclusions 12 How would you evaluate the research overall? 12 How would you evaluate the way the research has been written up? 12 Has your critique and evaluation of your chosen article informed your understanding of research and / or your own approach to research in the future – discuss what you have learnt from engaging in this process. 12 References 14 Introduction What is the nature of the research you have chosen? A small-scale research project which took place in Bristol, England between April 2002 and May 2003 although it purports to be of national and international interest. The project focused on the transition of Modern Foreign Language (MFL) learners from Key Stage 2 (KS2) to Key Stage 3 (KS3) from the perspectives of pupils, teachers, Heads of MFL departments and head teachers.