Conducting Educational Research Within and for Rural Communities: An Exploration of Research Methodologies

Session Type: Symposium

Abstract

The lack of explicit discussion about researching in rural places and the methodological issues and challenges by the education research community has meant that often the needs of rural students, their families, schools and communities remain invisible and the impact of rural research methodologies unexplored. This symposium brings together a team of international rural researchers to discuss what makes educational research in the rural different from research in any other social or geographic locations and will foster a discussion on how to conduct educational research within and for rural communities. The papers will also explore methodological issues such as ethics, anonymity, researcher position, power and impact that need to be considered in developing rurally focused research projects.

Sub Unit

• SIG-Rural Education

Chair

• Aimee A. Howley, WordFarmers Associates

Papers

• Who Conducts Rural Education? Toward an Ethics of Positionality - Michael J. Corbett, University of Tasmania; M. Tanya Brann-Barrett, Cape Breton University

• Researching in Rural Communities: Dealing With Researcher Identity and Notions of Anonymity - Simone Jane White, Monash University; Zane Hamm, University of Alberta

• Researching Rural Lives With Reciprocity - Pauliina Rautio, University of Oulu; Maija-Liisa Lanas, University of Oulu

Discussant

• Craig B. Howley, Ohio University - Athens