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Researching Professional Learning in Complex Environments: Opportunities and Challenges from a Qualitative Research Perspective

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Methods for Researching Professional Learning and Development

Part of the book series: Professional and Practice-based Learning ((PPBL,volume 33))

Abstract

This chapter discusses the contributions in the edited volume Methods for Researching Professional Learning and Development: Challenges, Applications and Empirical Illustrations from a primarily qualitative research perspective. The discussion takes the different methodological challenges or shortcomings that the chapters aim at addressing as a starting point, and moves between the suggested methods to discuss opportunities and limitations. A recurrent challenge is to find adequate ways to approach and delimit work practices within which learning unfolds, especially when work becomes multi-sited, interlinked in network constellations of actors and practices, and possibly black-boxed through the use of various information systems. In these efforts, a variety of theoretical and methodological approaches is needed. This edited volume is a valuable contribution to methodological discussion and awareness, which, through its various chapters, provides condensed introductions to various approaches as well as examples of how the given approach has been used in studies of professional learning or development. A suggested way forward is to establish more strategic connections to other research fields that take an interest in work-related learning and development, such as organisation studies, information system research and infrastructure studies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Education, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

    Monika Nerland

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  1. Monika Nerland
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Correspondence to Monika Nerland .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Educational Science, Paderborn University, Paderborn, Germany

    Michael Goller

  2. Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Eva Kyndt

  3. Department of Education, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland

    Susanna Paloniemi

  4. Department of Education, University of Oslo, Blindern, Oslo, Norway

    Crina Damşa

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Nerland, M. (2022). Researching Professional Learning in Complex Environments: Opportunities and Challenges from a Qualitative Research Perspective. In: Goller, M., Kyndt, E., Paloniemi, S., Damşa, C. (eds) Methods for Researching Professional Learning and Development. Professional and Practice-based Learning, vol 33. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-08518-5_27

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-08518-5_27

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-08517-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-08518-5

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