Michael Thomas & Jocelyn Wishart 
E-Research in Educational Contexts [PDF ebook] 
The roles of technologies, ethics and social media

This book explores the impact of e-research in education and the opportunities presented by a new generation of research approaches and tools. ‘E-research’ is an umbrella term that encompasses all digital research methods used for data collection and analysis including those involving handheld mobile devices. This is a current concern as the emergence of online tools that enable people to collaborate, create, and share information has led to the widespread use of these new digital research methods. Indeed, new tools and technologies are emerging almost daily and are being taken up by researchers for their ease of data collection and analysis. As a result the book investigates the implications of how we conceptualise educational research in the digital age. In addressing a range of key themes, from the ethics of e-research to the relationships between researchers and participants, the book presents original studies from a variety of educational contexts where digital tools are being used, and should be of value to postgraduate students, academic researchers, and policy makers. This book was originally published as a special issue of the International Journal of Research & Method in Education.