Creative Research Methods in Education

“Bursting with case studies and practical advice, this book is an important source of inspiration and guidance for early career researchers and students seeking to use creative methods in education research.” Helen Lomax, University of Huddersfield

“An invaluable, highly accessible and comprehensive compendium of state-of-the-art creative methods that opens manifold new opportunities for the generation and analysis of co-constructed data in education and social science research fields.” Constantino Dumangane Jr, University of York

“A fascinating introduction to a wide range of creative research methods, from walking interviews to song, hip-hop and poetry. Through case studies illustrating real-life practice, this book enables the reader to think deeply about how to undertake appropriate research in their own context.” Helen Lewis, Swansea University

"This is a well-written, accessible and thought-provoking book that promotes the use of creative methods in educational research in a balanced way... I am very glad to have the book on my shelf and would definitely recommend it to students, but also to researchers wanting to reflect on their practice." International Journal of Research & Method in Education

“While giving clear and practical advice, with lots of case study examples, the book also speaks with a friendly authority that makes it feel both reassuring and inspiring.” Social Research Association Research Matters

Helen Kara has been an independent researcher since 1999 and writes and teaches on research methods and ethics. She is the author of Research Ethics in the Real World: Euro-Western and Indigenous Perspectives (Policy Press, 2018) and Creative Research Methods: A Practical Guide (2nd edn, Policy Press, 2020). She is also an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the University of Manchester. In 2015 Helen was the first fully independent researcher to be conferred as a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences.

Narelle Lemon is an educator, researcher, writer and creative having studied classical music and visual arts. She currently works as an Associate Professor in Education at Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia and supports the development of future teachers. Narelle's overarching research area is focused on participation and engagement. She explores this through a variety of avenues including social media use for learning and professional development; creativity and arts education; and positive psychology specifically focused on mindfulness.

Dawn Mannay is a Reader in Social Sciences (Psychology) at Cardiff University, Wales, UK. Her research interests include class, gender, education and inequality, and she employs visual, creative and participatory methods in her work with communities. Dawn’s publications include Visual, Narrative and Creative Research Methods: Application, Reflection and Ethics (Routledge, 2015), Emotion and the Researcher: Sites, Subjectivities, and Relationships (Emerald, 2018), Children and Young People ‘Looked After’? Education, Intervention and the Everyday Culture of Care in Wales (University of Wales Press, 2019); and The SAGE Handbook of Visual Research Methods (SAGE, 2019).

Megan McPherson is a practising artist, a Research Fellow at the Research Unit for Indigenous Arts and Cultures, and an academic at The Wilin Centre for Indigenous Arts and Cultural Development at The Victorian College of The Arts, the University of Melbourne. Her research focuses on the learning experiences of artists and the spaces these practices are enacted with agency and justice. Megan has exhibited artworks since 1988. She has published in the areas of scholarship of learning and teaching in higher education; subjectivities, agency and affect in the university studio; and social media use in academia.

Introduction

Research Design

Context-Setting

Data Gathering Using Two Dimensional and Technological Methods – Research With Children and Young People

Data Gathering Using Three Dimensional and Online Methods – Research With Adults

Data Analysis

Writing/Reporting

Presentation

Dissemination

Where to Next With Creative Research Methods