This book presents a series of research biographies based on research experiences in the study of educational settings. The main aim is to provide a set of first person accounts on doing research that combine analysis with description. The contributors have been drawn from the disciplines of sociology and educational studies and have all conducted ethnographic work or case studies in a variety of educational settings.

Introduction Robert G Burgess. 1. The Old Girl Network: Reflections on the Fieldwork at St.Luke's Sara Delamont. 2. The Researcher Exposed: A Natural History Martyn Hammersley. 3. Beachside Reconsidered: Reflections on a Methodological Apprenticeship Stephen J Ball. 4. Dimensions of Gender in a School: Reinventing the Wheel? Mary Fuller. 5. The Main in the Wendy House: Researching Infants' Schools Ronald King. 6. The Modification of Method in Researching Postgraduate Education Mary A Porter. 7. Wards and Deeds: Taking Knowledge and Control Seriously Paul Atkinson. 8. A Study in the Dissemination of Action Research Jean Rudduck. 9. Library Access, Library Use and User Education in Academic Sixth Forms: An Autobiographical Account Lawrence Stenhouse. 10. Chocolate Cream Soldiers: Sponsorship, Ethnography and Sectarianism David Jenkins. 11. Autobigraphical Accounts and Research Experience Robert G Burgess. Notes on Contributors