Using qualitative research strategies in cross-national projects: the English–Finnish experience

Abstract

Some methodological issues are discussed that arise from our comparative research conducted since the early 1990s into primary schooling in Finland and England. This research has been identified as part of a ‘new’ comparative education that uses qualitative research strategies and which prioritises sensitivity to cultural context in data collection and analysis. The procedures used in our research are considered. Several challenges for cross-national qualitative research are addressed – particularly in relation to language and data analysis. In conclusion brief examples from the findings illustrate how the research approach enabled a comparison between national policy intentions and school outcomes.

Keywords:

• primary/elementary schools
• Finnish comprehensive schools
• comparative education
• cross-national research
• qualitative data analysis

Acknowledgements

We should like to thank all the Finnish researchers at the University of Jyväskylä with whom we have worked but especially Seppo Hämäläinen (Emeritus Professor of Teacher Education) and Anneli Sarja (Senior Researcher and Adjunct Professor in the Institute for Educational Research) without whom the research projects reported here would not have been possible.