How do you become an education researcher?

Choosing a focus, as is with any field of work, comes from deep engagement. Think of what you enjoy working through, and what helps give you a boost in self esteem. While these may seem relatively simple opportunities to reflect, they may often lead you down paths you may not have considered. The field of education research is very broad; however, you’re not choosing a range of topics within this field. You’re choosing from a range of topics that are interesting to you.

I agree and believe that there are many topics in educational research, and I think that my research focus really stems from my experience navigating the U.S. education system as the son of an immigrant. While I was privileged to succeed in the system, I noticed my own friends and peers being pushed out of their intended pathways. After attending university and being exposed to education research through coursework and a research assistant experience, I realized that the issues I experienced also happened outside of my primary, secondary, and post secondary education contexts. My exposure to research and my personal experience helped me develop my focus on education policy research.

I completely agree. During my undergraduate at UC Davis, I was fortunate to supplement my coursework in education with classroom internships, student affairs assistant roles, and research assistant roles. Pursuing these experiences across the education field helped me learn more about the day to day work. This helped me decide that pursuing academic research roles would allow me to contribute to each of the areas in the education field. My undergraduate program provided me with foundational knowledge. During my graduate program, I’ve prioritized developing technical skills in research design, program evaluation, and advanced quantitative methods like machine learning. These skills help me implement my ideas and pursue my research agenda.

This is 100% true, you must build your skills over time and that comes through classes and research programs but most importantly mentoring. During your educational journey, find professors that will guide you along your first research projects and then you can start doing your own projects with them advising along the way. These relationships will also help you getting more education as you start a master or phd

✅ Research Methods: Acquire a solid understanding of various research methodologies, both qualitative and quantitative. Familiarize yourself with data collection and analysis techniques relevant to educational research. ✅ Data Literacy: Develop proficiency in handling and interpreting data. This includes statistical analysis, data visualization, and the ability to draw meaningful conclusions from research findings. ✅ Academic Writing: Hone your academic writing skills. Learn how to write research papers, reports, and articles that adhere to scholarly standards. Clear communication is essential for disseminating your research effectively.

✅ Engage with Peers: Connect with fellow researchers, educators, and professionals in your chosen field. Attend conferences, join online forums, and participate in academic communities to build a network of collaborators and mentors. ✅ Collaborate on Projects: Seek opportunities to collaborate on research projects with experienced researchers. This not only enhances your skills but also exposes you to different research methodologies and perspectives. ✅ Join Professional Associations: Become a member of relevant professional associations in education research. Membership provides access to resources, conferences, and networking opportunities that can significantly contribute to your growth as a researcher.

✅ Professional Development: Stay committed to continuous learning. Attend workshops, webinars, and training sessions to stay updated on new research methods, technologies, and advancements in the field of education research. ✅ Seek Feedback: Embrace constructive feedback on our research work. Engage with mentors and peers to refine our research skills and improve the quality of our contributions. ✅ Explore Interdisciplinary Approaches: Education research often benefits from interdisciplinary perspectives. Explore connections with fields such as psychology, sociology, technology, or policy to enrich our research.

In my experience as an educator, continuous learning is a passion for me. Educational research takes a serious love for reading, analyzing research, and the ability to continuously develop, improve, and advance critical thinking skills while simultaneously engaging in learning new skills.

Research can be impactful on personal and societal levels. The high impact process of conducting research and evaluation can add a lot of pressure to new researchers and graduate students. Although I would consider myself a new researcher, my advice would be to always think back to what inspired you to start conducting research in the first place. Why is it important to you? Developing your research identity including topical focus and methodological specializations doesn’t come all at once. It comes with experience. You might think that one opportunity will be the only one to advance your career, but every experience will contribute to developing your own brand. So, be kind to yourself and always remember why you do the research you do.

Always keep in mind what you want to research. It is very easy to get caught up in rabbit holes when you read paper after papers on certain subjects. Always make sure to go back to your initial research question but more importantly what you’re passionate about because that will ensure continued motivation which is key in the long and tedious road of academic research.