Are there distinctive methodologies for pedagogic research in higher education?

Abstract

We note that there is a scarcity of methodological literature aimed at guiding Higher Education teachers wishing to conduct pedagogic research, despite the increasing value accorded to such research. This may be because pedagogic research in HE does not differ significantly from that in other educational settings; if this were so, HE teachers could usefully draw upon existing, largely schools‐focused texts to inform their projects. However, we speculate that methodologies for pedagogic research in HE may be distinctive (even if the research methods used are not). We suggest that this distinctiveness arises from the particularities of the HE context, and from the specific roles and experiences—both personal and professional—of HE teachers. However, we conclude that the main defining feature of methodologies for pedagogic research in HE is their diversity, and the opportunities they offer to combine conventional educational research methodologies with HE teachers' disciplinary expertise and understandings.

Notes

* Corresponding author: Centre for Learning and Teaching, University of Brighton, Mayfield House, Falmes, Brighton BN1 9PH, UK. Email: [email protected]

This MA programme supports and accredits staff carrying out various forms of professional development activities—including research—which focus on their role as HE teachers. More information is available at http://staffcentral.bton.ac.uk/clt.

We acknowledge that a certain amount of educational development work has enjoyed government funding through such initiatives as the Fund for the Development of Teaching and Learning and the Teaching Quality Enhancement Fund, but this has rarely included a prominent pedagogic research element. A notable exception to this is Phase III of the Economic and Social Research Council's Teaching and Learning Research Programme.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Barry Stierer *

* Corresponding author: Centre for Learning and Teaching, University of Brighton, Mayfield House, Falmes, Brighton BN1 9PH, UK. Email: [email protected]