Education Studies Research

This section of the Education Studies Research Guide outlines tools, books and videos to help you plan and design your research. It assists you in answering questions such as:

• How do I define my research topic and determine my research question(s)?

• What steps are required to answer my research question(s)?

• What theoretical or conceptual frameworks can inform my research approach?

• What research methods are appropriate for my topic or question(s)?

Research is not a linear process. It is a cyclical, iterative journey that may require you to return to these questions, reconsider your methods and frameworks, and redefine your topic at any given stage as new insights and concepts emerge during the research process.

Sage Research Methods Library

The Sage Research Methods Library is designed for university students in the health and social sciences. Through books, articles, videos, podcasts, and interactive content, you can explore topics such as designing research projects, understanding research methods, completing a literature review, conducting research, and writing your findings. Registration is optional. Tools include:

• Methods map: An interactive map of terms related to key concepts in research. Provides a quick overview of concepts such as research ethics, research design, data collection, qualitative and quantitative data analysis, and more.

• Project planner: An interactive planning tool that can be used throughout the research process. You can follow the planner from the beginning or jump between relevant sections.

• Learn about quantitative methods: Browse through Sage's Quantitative Applications in the Social Sciences series, also known as the "Little Green Books". Filter through 174 handbooks on topics such as regression, models, experimental design, survey data and many more.

• Learn about qualitative methods: Sage's Qualitative Research Methods series, also known as Sage's "Little Blue Books" consists of 47 handbooks that cover topics such as discourse analysis, ethnography, participatory action research and more. 

University of Toronto Libraries: Essential Research Skills

University of Toronto Libraries offers an Essential Research Skills series of four workshops, which can be taken individually or together for Co-Curricular Record (CCR) credit. The workshops run several times a year and University of Toronto students may sign up on an ongoing basis. An accompanying Essential Research Skills guide covers the content of all four workshops, including getting started (understanding your assignment and narrowing your research topic), finding scholarly sources, choosing the best sources, and citing and organizing your sources.