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Special Interest Group

Practitioner Research

Embracing the diversity of practitioner researchers

This SIG is a supportive and collaborative community of practitioner researchers working in a diverse range of contexts. It brings together those with a special interest in all those (closely related) methodologies in which research is an integral part of practice and plays a significant role in promoting the publication and dissemination of practitioner research studies as well as studies which focus on the methodological approaches to practitioner research.

Research interests

  • Methodological approaches to practitioner research
  • The relationship between ethics and practitioner research
  • Practice development
  • Evidence-based practice

SIG aims:

  • To develop and foster a close, collaborative and diverse community of practitioner researchers.
  • To contribute to the generation of theory, knowledge and expertise about practitioner research.
  • To provide ‘critical friendship’ to BERA members and others engaged in practitioner research with the intention of establishing broadly agreed ‘fitness for purpose’ quality criteria for such research.
  • To promote the principle of a spectrum of educational research that will enable stronger links to be established and sustained between small-scale practitioner research, larger-scale academic research and local and national decision-making.
  • To establish links with regional, national and international bodies that have a leadership role in practitioner research, for example, The Chartered College of Teaching. 
  • To give prominence to practitioner research within BERA’s activities, for example through contributing articles to Research Intelligence and BERJ and through organising accessible events which appeal to our membership and help to meet the overall aims of the SIG. 

SIG Convenors

Profile picture of Claire Tyson
Claire Tyson, Dr

Teacher Researcher at Homewood School and Sixth Form Centre

Claire Tyson is a teacher researcher based at Homewood School and Sixth Form Centre, where she combines teaching science with her research post. Her PhD was obtained by studying part time with Queen Mary, University of London in Clinical...

Profile picture of Emma Taylor
Emma Taylor, Dr

LSE Fellow at London School of Economics & Political Science

Emma Taylor has over 12 years of experience teaching Geography to secondary school students in London. Alongside teaching, she has recently undertaken the role of Research Lead at the school in which she currently works. Her research role...

Profile picture of Joyce Chen
Joyce Chen, Dr

Further Education Lecturer and Teacher Educator at The College of West Anglia

Dr Joyce I-Hui Chen has recently been awarded her PhD in Education Studies. She has been working in different educational sectors for more than 20 years in Taiwan and in the United Kingdom (UK), from primary education to higher education. Her...

Content associated with this SIG

Practitioner Research in Mathematics Education

3 Feb 2024 10:30 am - 3:30 pm

The aim of the Practitioner Research in Mathematics Education (PRiME) event is to build the capacity of practitioner researchers through engagement with the wider research community. This event...

Upcoming event

BERA Conference 2023 Awards Announced

The BERA Conference 2023 was held at the Conference Aston/ Aston University, 12-14 September 2023. We are pleased to announce the conference award winners. Please click below to view the ECR Best...

News11 Oct 2023

BERA Conference 2023

12 September 2023 to 14 September 2023Aston University/ Conference Aston

The BERA Conference 2023 was held on the 12th-14th September 2023 at Conference Aston/Aston University. Keynote speakers included: Professor Linda Tuhiwai Smith. The conference ended with three...

Past conference12 Sep 2023