School of Education
Research Seminars
30th January 12.45 – 2.00 The Science Learning Centre
Geoffrey Walford, University of
Oxford
Geoffrey Walford is Professor of Education Policy and a Fellow of Green College at the University of
Oxford. He is Editor of the annual volume, Studies in Educational Ethnography. The seminar reflects one of his research foci, qualitative research methodology.
Why is anonymity a ‘good thing’ in research? This seminar will discuss the assumption that research sites and informants should be anonymous in research reports. It will suggest that this ‘default option’ should be reconsidered on a number of grounds. Firstly, it is actually almost impossible to keep secret the identity of research sites. Secondly, such anonymity as is possible protects the researcher more than the researched and finally, those involved may actually wish to be named.