In this article, I describe the processes involved in designing and carrying out a case study project. The case study focuses on a science teacher, Donald, who was undertaking an inquiry-based curriculum change to an advanced chemistry course in a specialized science, technology, engineering, and mathematics school. I describe the groundwork…

The case study presented here highlights a unique method of collecting data for phenomenological qualitative studies. Drawing from many scholars in qualitative research, Irving Seidman developed this method of in-depth interviewing with attributes of validity and reliability. It is a time-intensive method in which three interviews are conducted,…

Phenomenography is a research approach that seeks to identify "variation" in experiences of a particular phenomenon among a sample population. It includes particular procedures for writing research questions, designing data collection tools, and analyzing findings. Sustainability in higher education has attracted considerable interest in…

This case study reflects on the main method of data collection, the "Biographical Narrative Interview Method," I applied in my doctoral research, which critically analysed the influence of social class on graduate employment trajectories. It will evaluate the specific mechanics of the method and forms or approaches within the…

This case study evaluated the impact of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics initiatives in improving educational outcomes in the United Kingdom. Using secondary data in the form of official datasets approved by the national pupil database, Year 7 cohort was longitudinally followed from the beginning of Key Stage 3 till the end of Key…

Data in the social sciences often do not conform to what a researcher would like in order to have an unproblematic analysis using some form of linear regression. Especially, when data reflect counts, a number of potential problems arise. This case study discusses challenges that occurred when applying the models and examines the results. Finally,…

As veteran educational researchers in case study and action research methods, we engaged in a design-based research project as an innovative approach for dealing with the complex practice of integrating science and literacy within elementary classrooms. We choose design-based research as both a theoretical "and" research framework as our…

The topic for my PhD project is assessment of music performance by social moderation in upper secondary school. My aim with the study is to develop knowledge of how teachers perceive and meet the challenges of performance assessment, with specific focus on the intersubjective teacher team. Research in the field of music performance assessment has…

Having made the move from a professional practice role to an educator position, I decided that it would be beneficial to improve my understanding and capability to support student learning in the higher education setting. As such, I made the choice to take up doctoral studies. While working with students and other instructors, the subject of…

This case provides an account of how micro-ethnography and fiction narratives were used together on a PhD that explores teachers' emotional involvement with their day-to-day work in 'special-alternative' schools. The case study presented here focuses on examining the practicalities and challenges of putting together those methods. A…

This case study is in process, begun in 2008, in which I am currently collecting data for an authorized biography. It outlines what has recently been a shift in the role of researchers, especially during interviews, from one of structured questioner to a more collaborative role, that of conversational partner. Data collection methods are varied…

In 2014, we embarked on a research agenda focused on raising up the voices of urban youth who had disengaged from school before graduating high school. The youth communicated events that not only contributed to their disengagement but also to a sense of mistrust for individuals in traditional "helping roles" (e.g., teachers or parents).…

'Everybody can quickly collect data using questionnaires'--this is an incorrect assumption among not only students but also veteran researchers. As a researcher and lecturer for research methods, I have more than once came across carelessly conducted studies using poorly constructed questionnaires meant to inform the implementation of…

Mediated conversations are an innovative method for the generation of rich qualitative data on complex issues such as researchers often face in education contexts. The method draws from the sociocultural paradigm, which highlights the role of "artefacts" and "audience" in mediating participants' actions and thoughts. Mediated…

In winter 2014, I came upon an opportunity to conduct a case study on a team of middle school math teachers who initiated a study group to examine how a set of learning progressions could help them with their planning, instruction, and assessment. Learning progressions are research-based hypotheses about how students develop more sophisticated…