This book focuses on the topic of academic publishing. It discusses the mounting, serious problems that researchers, particularly new researchers, encounter when trying to publish their research. The book addresses the issues of publishing as well as the salient factors militating against academic publication and the mitigating factors encouraging academic publication. It provides potential solutions, suggestions, and strategies for overcoming some of these problems.Growing researc...

This edited volume explores, investigates and analyses Free Learning – an innovative approach to student-directed learning which seeks to challenge educational norms from within. The volume is framed by a recognition of the urgent need for transformation of our educational systems.In traditional education, students work through a teacher-directed linear syllabus, at a pace dictated by the teacher, with summative assessment hurdles at too-frequent intervals. Progression and directio...

This volume gathers contributions in the closely linked fields of English language assessment and language education. The contributors from China and Hong Kong represent a mixture of established and new scholars. Areas covered in the language education section range across major developments in the redefining of Hong Kong’s secondary and tertiary curricula, as well as the huge field of China’s vocational education curriculum. Regarding assessment, the contributions reflect major changes in...

This book discusses Hong Kong’s use of onscreen marking (OSM) in public examinations. Given that Hong Kong leads the way in OSM innovation, this book has arisen from a recognised need to provide a comprehensive, coherent account of the findings of various separate but linked validation studies of onscreen public examinations in Hong Kong. The authors discuss their experience of the validation process, demonstrating how high-stakes innovation should be fully validated by a series of researc...

This book provides a detailed account of the origin, development, administration, revision and subsequent research findings on the benchmarking initiative from 1996-2016. It presents an overall assessment of the initiative’s impact on major stakeholders, predictions regarding the way forward, and implications for other countries, especially in South East Asia. In addition, the book discusses what the larger global community can learn from Hong Kong’s two-decade experience of conceptualizin...

This book examines the crucial role that sound file selection plays in assessing listening ability and introduces the reader to the procedure of textmapping, which explores how to exploit a sound file. The book discusses the role of the task identifier, the task instructions and the example, and analyses the strengths and weaknesses of different test methods. Guidelines for developing listening items, and procedures that can be used in peer review and task revision are also provided. A ran...

Packed with practical advice and research quick tips, this book is the perfect companion to your health research project. It not only explains the theory of qualitative health research so you can interpret the studies of others, but also showcases how to approach, start, maintain, and disseminate your own research.It will help you:Understand the role of the researcherDevelop an effective research proposalSeek ethical approvalConduct inter...

This second edition of Diana Ridley′s bestselling book provides a step-by-step guide to conducting a literature search and literature review, using cases and examples throughout to demonstrate best practice. Ridley outlines practical strategies for conducting a systematic search of the available literature, reading and note taking and writing up your literature review as part of an undergraduate research project, Masters dissertation or PhD thesis.New to this edition are:...

This book provides practical guidance on processes of researching a range of relevant literature on a subject, planning and writing a literature review.

How to Research is a clear and accessible guide to the business of doing a research project. It systematically takes the reader through from the planning to the writing up and finishing off.

Rosaline Barbour draws on her extensive teaching experience to provide a clear, user-friendly introduction to the craft of doing qualitative research. Each chapter includes examples of real-life qualitative data and a range of exercises to help students get a feel for the process of generating and analysing qualitative data.The second edition includes:New examples from a range of social science disciplines, making this the perfect book no matter what course you’re stu...

Written by internationally renowned experts, each chapter provides a full introduction to a key aspect of research methodology. From starting out to generating, analysing, and presenting data, this new edition covers foundational concepts in social research while also keeping students on the pulse of topics like digital social research, social surveys, and big data. Packed with international examples from across the social sciences, it shows how to interpret and work with data generated fr...