Research and Development in School

May Britt Postholm, Ph.D., is professor in pedagogy and qualitative methodology at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Department of Teacher Education. She has published articles on teaching and learning and qualitative methodology in both national and international journals.

• PrefaceList of Figures1 Introduction1  Development Work Research and Research in School2  DWR and Research at Valen School3  The Aim of the Book4  The Structure of the Book2 Theoretical Perspectives and Cultural Historical Activity Theory1  Different Theoretical Perspectives2  Cultural Historical Activity Theory3  The Activity System: Its Origin and Development4  Researching Development Processes3 The Qualitative Method: Its Historical and Theoretical Roots and Characteristics1  Historical Roots2  Theoretical Roots3  Characteristics of the Qualitative Method4 Researcher Roles and Access to the Research Field1  Researcher Roles and the Aim of the Research2  Access to the Research Field5 Qualitative Research Approaches and Analysis1  Case Studies2  Ethnographic Studies3  Phenomenological Studies4  Narrative Studies5  Text Analysis6  Conversation Analysis/6 Data Collection1  Observation as a Data Collection Strategy2  Different Observer Roles3  Interviews as a Data Collection Strategy4  Types of Interviews5  Questions That Help the Researcher Achieve Understanding6  Connection between Interview and Observation7  Practical Advice7 Analysing the Data Material Using the Constant Comparative Analysis Method and D-Analysis1  Introduction2  The Point of Departure and Purpose of the Constant Comparative Analysis Method3  The Importance of Theory When Using the Constant Comparative Analysis Method4  Analytical Procedures in the Constant Comparative Analysis Method5  Analysis of an On-Going Process6  Contextual Circumstances in the Analysis7  Asking Questions and Making Comparisons8  Strategies in the Analytical Work9  Categories and Structure in a Written Presentation10  Background for the Project Used as an Example for the Constant Comparative Analysis Method and D-Analysis11  Concluding Reflection8 Quality and Ethics1  Introduction2  Knowledge – Constructed and Intersubjective3  Concepts Representing Quality4  Ethical Principles in Research5  Quality and Ethics – A Summary9 Writing up the Research Project1  Introduction2  The Thesis and the Researcher’s Position3  The Recipients of the Thesis4  The Introduction in the Thesis5  Thick and Thin Descriptions6  How to Structure the Text7  Descriptions as the Starting Point for Further Analysis8  Quotations Embedded in the Text9  The Connecting Theme in the Master’s ThesisReferencesAppendicesAppendix 1Appendix 2Appendix 3Index