The feeling of finding out: the role of emotions in research

Abstract

This article opens with an exploration of the false polarity of reason and emotion. The author argues that emotion and thinking are inextricably linked in the research process and explores debates around the connections between emotion, thinking and research. She goes on to look at the emotional and cognitive processes involved in engaging in research, giving examples from teachers' action research and presenting this as stages. Finally the implications for those facilitating research are explored and the support needs of those undertaking research are examined.