Researching Learning in Higher Education: An Introduction

In this review of Researching Learning in Higher Education, the bottom line is clear: this book is a practical, accessible introduction for anyone starting research into university teaching and learning. Glynis Cousin frames contemporary methods in a way that suits new lecturers, graduate students and professional developers who need a straightforward roadmap rather than dense theoretical debate. The single biggest reason to buy is its concise, usable guidance on designing and conducting teaching and learning research in Higher Education, filling a gap for practitioners who want a basic but comprehensive reference.

Key Features

• Practical orientation: Provides step-by-step approaches that make it easier for newcomers to plan and carry out classroom-based research.
• Contemporary methods: Covers a range of up-to-date approaches suited to current Higher Education challenges, helping researchers choose appropriate methods.
• Accessible language: Written in a clear, non-technical style so that lecturers and graduate students can grasp concepts quickly without specialist training.
• Targeted guidance: Emphasises the needs of professional developers and new academics, offering realistic examples and advice for university contexts.
• Comprehensive scope: Addresses the full research process from design to reporting, which helps users see how individual steps fit together.

Who It's For

This book is best for new lecturers, doctoral students and staff developers who need an introduction to researching teaching and learning rather than an exhaustive theoretical treatise. It works well as a course text or a quick reference when planning small-scale classroom studies.

Experienced education researchers looking for advanced methodological debates or extensive empirical studies should look elsewhere, as the emphasis here is on practical, introductory guidance rather than specialist depth or large-scale data-driven analysis.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Clear, practitioner-focused guidance that makes research design approachable for beginners.
• Contemporary overview of methods relevant to current Higher Education contexts.
• Useful for professional development and course use, with advice tailored to university teaching.

Cons

• Not intended as an advanced methodological reference, so experienced researchers may find the coverage basic.

Specifications

Title	Researching Learning in Higher Education: An Introduction to Contemporary Methods and Approaches (SEDA Series)
Author	Glynis Cousin
Audience	New lecturers, professional developers, researchers, graduate students
Focus	Research methods for teaching and learning in Higher Education
Approach	Contemporary, practical, introductory
Use case	Course text, practitioner reference, small-scale research planning

Our Verdict

Researching Learning in Higher Education is a strong value for anyone beginning classroom-based research: it provides concise, practical guidance tailored to university teaching contexts and professional development. Buy it if you want an accessible introduction that helps you plan and carry out teaching and learning research; look elsewhere only if you need advanced methodological depth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this book suitable for doctoral students?
Yes; it is written to support graduate students who are new to researching teaching and learning and need a clear introduction.

Does it cover advanced quantitative methods?
The emphasis is on contemporary, practical approaches rather than specialist advanced quantitative techniques, so it may not satisfy those seeking deep statistical coverage.

Can it be used in professional development workshops?
Yes; the book is geared toward professional developers and works well as a course text or workshop resource.