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Freedom Research in Education

Becoming an Autonomous Researcher

  • Book
  • © 2018

Overview

Authors:
  1. Karen McArdle

    1. University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom

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  • Advances the concept of 'freedom research' as a new means of conceptualising research in education studies
  • Argues that ethics, values and virtues need to be clarified to ensure the researcher can research with freedom
  • Explores freedom in relation to a range of research methods

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in Education Research Methods (PSERM)

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Table of contents (10 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xvii
    Download chapter PDF

  2. Introducing Freedom Research

    • Karen McArdle
    Pages 1-11

  3. The Social Context of Research and Inquiry

    • Karen McArdle
    Pages 13-21

  4. Freedom from Orthodoxy

    • Karen McArdle
    Pages 23-44

  5. Identity and the Freedom Researcher

    • Karen McArdle
    Pages 45-65

  6. Creativity in Freedom Research

    • Karen McArdle
    Pages 67-82

  7. Educational Values and the Link to Methodology

    • Karen McArdle
    Pages 83-102

  8. Creating Meaning and Communication

    • Karen McArdle
    Pages 103-125

  9. Ethical Education and Research

    • Karen McArdle
    Pages 127-144

  10. Validity and Freedom Research

    • Karen McArdle
    Pages 145-156

  11. Conclusion and Reflexivity

    • Karen McArdle
    Pages 157-169

  12. Back Matter

    Pages 171-174
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Keywords

About this book

This book sets out a new and distinctive means of conceptualising research in the field of Education: ‘Freedom Research’. Freedom research is a conceptual understanding of research free from the strictures of orthodoxy; which adapts or knowingly critiques conventions about the ways in which research should be conducted. Underpinning this concept is the argument that the conventions of traditional approaches to research in education may be both confidence-sapping and constrictive to both the early career and mature educational researcher. By critiquing the boundaries of a socially constructed discipline, the researcher may then be liberated to research with freedom, creativity and innovation. This pioneering volume will assist the researcher to become more autonomous, and by extension more confident, in their own research practice. It will be of appeal to scholars, students and researchers in Education, of all stages of their career. 

Reviews

“This book challenges the reader to embrace the tensions and assumptions inherent, yet often invisible, in current orthodoxies in educational research.   It emphasises courage, confidence, creativity and a sense of moral purpose in making explicit and transparent the essence of researcher 'values' – i.e. morality, ethics, values and virtues – which lie at the core of research. Freedom Research in Education identifies the responsibilities of developing autonomous researchers and co-researchers who, through alternative approaches in research purpose and design, provide transparency, openness and robustness. This book invites the reader to think deeply about self and personal beliefs and about how they influence and are influenced by research communities… It is a thought-provoking read which will not only trigger debate, critique and discussion but contributes to reshaping the educational research trajectory.” (Professor Do Coyle, Director of Research and Knowledge Exchange, Moray House School of Education, University of Edinburgh, UK)

“There is a crisis of credibility in today’s world… the temptation to resort to orthodoxy and fundamentalism as a countermeasure is great.  The social sciences in the global North may have unwittingly been a driving force, through an unrelenting penchant for deconstruction on the one hand, and absolute claims of truth on the other.  Prof. McArdle skillfully exposes the cause of our current malaise as a lack of attention to values… our moral intention in fact determines the quality and worth of what we do.  Her antidote is a rigorous and vigilant reflexive stance which frees us to call into question all scientific norms, holding them to the standard of how they can help us in any given context promote social justice and equality in the lives of those we research.” (Professor Michael T. Wright, Catholic University of Applied Science Berlin, Germany and the International Collaboration for Participatory Health Research)

Authors and Affiliations

  • University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom

    Karen McArdle

About the author

Karen McArdle is Professor Emerita at the University of Aberdeen, UK. She has been engaged in educational research for more than thirty years, primarily in the UK and Australia.

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Freedom Research in Education

  • Book Subtitle: Becoming an Autonomous Researcher

  • Authors: Karen McArdle

  • Series Title: Palgrave Studies in Education Research Methods

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69650-8

  • Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan Cham

  • eBook Packages: Education, Education (R0)

  • Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2018

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-319-69649-2Published: 27 March 2018

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-030-09905-3Published: 02 February 2019

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-319-69650-8Published: 19 March 2018

  • Series ISSN: 2662-7345

  • Series E-ISSN: 2662-7353

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XVII, 174

  • Number of Illustrations: 1 b/w illustrations

  • Topics: Higher Education, Research Ethics, Research Methodology, Educational Philosophy

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