Trying to build a research culture in a school: trying to find the right questions to ask

Abstract

There is a great deal of energy going into encouraging teachers to carry out research. This article, arising from interviews with teachers in four contrasting schools, explores three related questions enquiring into what teachers think about research; how they feel about doing research and, most importantly perhaps, why they choose to continue to develop or neglect their skills in undertaking classroom-based research. Attempts are made to highlight specific and practical strategies to ensure that teaching as a research-informed profession can become a reality.