Teachers As Researchers: Researchers As Teachers? Towards Successful Educational Research

• Main Author: Nair, Sue
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Penerbit Universiti Sains Malaysia 2007
• Subjects: LB2300 Higher Education
• Online Access: http://eprints.usm.my/34334/1/JPP_02_DR_SUE_NAIRL_ART_2_%2825-44%29.pdf; http://eprints.usm.my/34334/; http://apjee.usm.my/APJEE_22_2007/JPP%2002%20DR%20SUE%20NAIRL%20ART%202%20(25-44).pdf

The teacher research movement has sought to “... weave a research element into the expertise of teachers” (Nisbet, 2005: 43). Much has been done to achieve this aim. There is a considerable body of research which seeks to demonstrate to practicing and student teachers the value of participating in classroom research (for example, Bailey, 2001). The skills required of a teacher researcher have been enumerated (for example, Kincheloe, 2002), and there is a range of literature available to give practical guidance to teacher researchers (for example, Yates, 2004; Miller, 2005). This paper asks why there is not more evidence of teacher research impacting on practice. To consider this question, a number of relevant areas are examined, for example: social and political contexts; school cultures; and teachers’ perceptions of their roles and personal efficacy. Factors within these areas may affect teachers’ motivation to be involved in research. Practical actions to support teachers in becoming self-questioning, reflective and informed teacher researchers are identified. Inevitably, this development in the teachers’ role impacts on the role of university based researchers and on the relationship between schools and universities.