Dr. Keith S. Taber
Publication:
Taber, K. S. (2002)
“Intense, but it’s all worth it in the end”: the colearner’s experience
of the research process
British Educational Research Journal, 28 (3), pp.435-457.
Abstract:
Detailed enquiry into the learning process requires in-depth
case studies of individual learners. Such research involves the informants
in considerable time commitments, as well as the risk of exposing their personal
limitations as learners. This can be informative for the researcher, but
could also be threatening and demoralising for the "subject". Such issues
are especially significant for practitioner-researchers, where there is the
potential for conflicts of interest due to the dual teacher–researcher role.
This article discusses one study where a simple ethical framework was explicitly
employed to protect the interests of the learners. The informants were conceptualised
as "colearners" who should feel they benefited from their involvement, and
opportunities were taken to collect simple feedback on their perceptions
of research activities. The value and limitations of such data are considered.
The wider significance of the colearners" comments, and the potential methodological
repercussions of prioritising the "ethical imperative" are discussed.