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Conducting school-based qualitative research: reflections from the field
My PhD research concerns teaching and learning in drama education through the lens of arts partnership projects, which are collaborative creative learning projects between schools and arts organisations. My research analyses the impact of place and space on learning; the forms of learning which partnership working may enable; and the roles and identities which students, teachers and practitioners inhabit in these spaces. Through a case study methodology, my project closely examines two contrasting creative learning projects in the Yorkshire region and through using a variety of qualitative methods, aims to analyse the experiences of all participants. The aims of my research are to interrogate the opportunities and challenges of partnership working, and to consider if partnership working could contribute to a reimagined arts curriculum in English state education. At the present time when secondary drama education in state schools is in decline and all arts subjects are under threat, this research could contribute to the urgent debate about the value of the arts in schools. In this presentation, I will discuss my research journey so far and the opportunities and challenges of school-based qualitative data collection and the complexities in analysing this data. I will draw upon the theory which influenced my research design and the ethical considerations of conducting research with children and young people, reflecting upon my fieldwork experiences so far having just completed the pilot phase of my research project. I will consider the obstacles I have faced, insights I have gained, and the variety of methods I have utilised so far – including participant observation, interviews, and arts-based workshops.
Teams link: teams.microsoft.com/meet/3543109832631?p=iKgeJS7PQ6bg34MyPF
Date:
13 November 2025, 12:50
Venue:
15 Norham Gardens, 15 Norham Gardens OX2 6PY
Venue Details:
Seminar Room E
Speaker:
Carolyn Bradley (University of Leeds)
Organising department:
Department of Education
Organisers:
Dr Nicole Dingwall (University of Oxford),
Dr Velda Elliott (University of Oxford),
Dr. Steven Puttick (University of Oxford)
Part of:
Qualitative Methods Hub Seminars
Booking required?:
Not required
Audience:
Public
Editors:
Hannah Freeman,
Heather Sherkunov,
Kristina Khoo,
Shaena Sinclair
