Using appropriate research methods to investigate the experience of EAL students in an English secondary school

This study set out to explore the use of appropriate research methods to investigate how the school experiences of EAL students can be studied through the theoretical framework of inclusive education. A qualitative case study research design was employed. One English secondary school catering for an ethnically diverse student population served as the case study. The findings from four individual cases of EAL student participants were presented. The data analysis focused on identifying barriers with regards to EAL students’ presence, participation, achievement and social inclusion at school. A constructivist framework focusing on an interpretivist epistemology of data analysis was used. The research methods of observations, group interviews, and Participatory Photography in combination with Focus Group Discussions, drawing on notions of ‘pupil voice’ tasks were used. The evaluation of specific research methods involved the identification of whether these methods can generate data relevant to inclusive educational practices; whether it is useful to use research methods that generate different typed of data in a qualitative research design; and, whether it will be justifiable to use all of these methods in the PhD research design. It was concluded that each of the research methods offered useful insights relevant to inclusive educational practices and served a distinct purpose within the research design. Taking into consideration the limitations of each method, all of the methods used will constitute part of a future PhD research design.