Surveying the Landscape of Research Activities by Teachers in Ireland
Reminder about the Landscape of Teacher Research survey on behalf of the Teachers' Research Exchange (T-REX) Project, led by Mary Immaculate College, Limerick.
We are looking to determine the scope of research activity by practicing teachers in Ireland during the current academic year (2024-2025). Research activity of many different kinds has more and more become a common aspect of the professional practice of teachers and school leaders. Despite this fact, there is little by way of tracking what research is going on across many different venues and areas, nor any means of representing just how much new knowledge is being produced by teachers and school leaders, in various ways, in a given academic year. This project aims to survey the landscape of current research, so as to better represent the level of activity, and the diverse forms it takes.
As part of this research, we are conducting a short online anonymous survey on this topic. The survey will involve questions about the participant's professional background, as well as questions about what kind of research activity they might have undertaken in the current academic year ( Sept 2024-June 2025 ). The survey deadline has been extended until 14 th June.
If you would like to find out more about the short online survey, or take part, please click this https://forms.office.com/e/q3Sk6f9LYH .
Who are we?
We are researchers in the Teachers' Research Exchange (T-REX) Project, led by Mary Immaculate
College, Limerick. We are looking to determine the scope of research activity by practising teachers
in Ireland during the present academic year (2024-2025). Research activity of many different kinds
has more and more become a common aspect of the professional practice of teachers and school
leaders. Despite this fact, there is little by way of tracking what research is going on across many
different venues and areas, nor any means of representing just how much new knowledge is being
produced by teachers and school leaders, in various ways, in a given academic year. This project aims
to survey the landscape of current research, so as to better represent the level of activity, and the
diverse forms it takes.
Who are we asking to participate and what will it involve?
As part of this research we are conducting a short online anonymous survey on this topic.
The survey will take about 10 minutes to complete. It will involve questions about your professional
background (e.g. early years, primary, post-primary, further ed; your experience), as well as questions
about what kind of research activity you might have undertaken in the current academic year (Sept
2024-June 2025).
There are also a few questions about your understanding and perception of research in the teaching
profession.
Do you have to participate?
Participation in the study is voluntary, and you have the right to withdraw from the survey at any
stage before submitting it, without giving a reason and without consequence. However, after you
finalise the survey and click “submit” it may not be possible to identify your data for removal at a
later stage. If you complete the survey, no personally identifying data (not your name, nor technical
information such as your IP (internet) address) will be collected. All survey data will be stored
anonymously.
What happens with the Information Collected?
As the survey is anonymous it will not be possible to identify any participants when analysing the
data and reporting the findings. The anonymised findings will be used to better understand the
topic and will be included in presentations, academic writing/research papers to help highlight
any potential issues identified. Anonymised information will also be combined with other
anonymised data collected through other means (e.g. numbers registered on various formal
teacher research programmes in Ireland; number of teachers in receipt of funding from different
bodies), to develop a richer, more comprehensive representation of teacher-research activity in
Ireland than currently exists anywhere else.
Where can I find more information?
If you have any questions about this project, or would like more information, please get in touch
with one of the Principal Investigators: Marek McGann (
(
What ethical oversight has this project received?
This research study has received Ethics approval from the Mary Immaculate College Research Ethics
Committee (MIREC) ref. A24-085. If you have any concerns about this study and wish to contact an
independent authority, you may contact: Mary Collins, MIREC Administrator, Mary Immaculate College,
Limerick. Telephone: 061-204980 E-mail: