Research
The School of Education at Queen’s provides a rich and vibrant context for educational research. It is one of the leading centres for educational research in the UK and Ireland with over half of its research outputs being independently rated as either ‘internationally excellent’ or ‘world-leading’.
Research in the School of Education is organised within two broad themes. Within these two themes, the School is home to four internationally-recognised research centres:
Pedagogy, Learning and Curriculum
Research in this cluster aims to improve the learning and teaching environment in educational contexts. The research comprises a variety of methodologies, among which are randomized control trials; ethnographic, art-based (including ‘poetic inquiry’), children’s rights-based, multidisciplinary, projective and constructivist methodologies; and large-scale attitudinal surveys. Innovations in methodology, as well as developing innovative practice, are key drivers of cluster research activity.
Some research projects centre on ways that perceptions of children and young people in educational settings can be harnessed to improve policy and practice – specifically in relation to the learning and teaching of science and qualifications policy reform. Curriculum research addresses areas of the revised Northern Ireland curriculum, including citizenship and media awareness. Several projects address educational technology and its impact in a variety of contexts. Language learning provides another research area of the cluster, including work on fluency in spoken discourse and ways of articulating a multidisciplinary approach to multilingualism.
This cluster is also the home to two research centres:
Human Rights, Equality and Social Cohesion in Education
The cluster brings together high quality and internationally leading research within the School of Education, focusing on the potential role of education in upholding children’s rights, promoting social justice and reducing societal divisions. Our research is based on interdisciplinary theoretical perspectives, employs innovative methodologies, has an applied and policy-oriented focus and is built on close collaborations with academic partners, policy makers and practitioners.
Current projects relating to equality and social cohesion include research on peace education; the impact of intergroup contact on attitudes and community relations; and the improvement of provision and inclusion of children and young people with special educational needs. Some research focuses on the ethics and ethical practice of assessment and on understanding differential educational achievement in areas of multiple deprivation. Human rights issues in education are considered in a number of projects, particularly in relation to their application in educational policies and practices, children’s rights to participation and decision-making within schools and educational research.
This cluster is also the home to two research centres:
The wider influence of research at the School of Education is also evident in the extensive involvement of staff and students in key national and international research networks, the continuing ability of the School to attract major international conferences and the fact that it is also editorial home to three major international journals: British Educational Research Journal; Education, Citizenship and Social Justice; and Effective Education.
Our newly established Doctoral Research Centre has a lively community of over 160 full-time and part-time PhD and EdD research students. The Centre coordinates training and support for our research students and organises a series of research seminars throughout the year. The research student body is very active and organises its own regular postgraduate conferences. In addition, research students are encouraged to play a full and active role in relation to the wide range of research activities undertaken within the School.
The School of Education is the home of the University-wide, interdisciplinary Research Forum for the Child, reflecting the range and breadth of our own expertise in research with children.
We would like to invite you to find out more about research at the School of Education by exploring the links to the specific research centres. If you would like any further information please do not hesitate to contact us.
