e-Reseach: BOOK
1. Introduction
The emergence of Web 2.0 tools that enable people to collaborate, create and share information online has led to the use of new digital research methods. Across a range of contexts in education, these new practices are changing the landscape of research collaboration, data collection, analysis and dissemination(Jocelyn Wishart a & Michael Thomas, 2015)
eResearch is a concept or word which has come into vogue in academic research circles since 2000. Fundamentally, it is collaborative and interactive research made possible by the Internet and data and computational grids (Bill Appelbe and David Bannon, 2007)
Over the last 10 years, educational research has seen a range of methodological innovations that have been closely coupled with the development of digital technologies (Markauskaite, 2010, 2011).These developments—sometimes referred to under the umbrella terms of “e-research” and “Cyberinfrastructure”—include three major areas: educational datasets, research methods and collaborative inquiry approaches enabled by computer networks (O’Brien, 2005). For example, in cognitive and behavioural research, data about learning process can now be obtained using tools for measuring brain activity, emotional responses and eye movement. Ethnomethodological and microgenetic classroom observations can be conducted using advanced video recording techniques. Administrative records, students’ online learning logs and other “traces” of their learning with digital technologies can be combined creating ubiquitous, multimodal and longitudinal datasets for exploring lifelong learning. Students’ behaviour patterns and learning trajectories can be investigated with educational data mining, social network analysis and a range of other data-rich exploration, modelling and visualisation techniques. In short, the answers to the questions “How do people learn?” and particularly “How do they learn with technologies?” now can be explored in and out of classrooms using a range of technology-enhanced research methods and techniques (Reimann & Markauskaite, 2010).
Source:
Editorial: e-Research for education: Applied, methodological and critical perspectives, British Journal of Educational Technology Vol 45 No 3 2014 385–391 doi:10.1111/bjet.12154
In general
eResearch refers to the use of advanced information and communication technologies (ICTs) to support research. eResearch aims to ensure research processes are more effective, efficient and collaborative.
eResearch is underpinned by the following themes:
Data management Data management entails the collection, storage and classification of research data to enable logical and timely data retrieval and management as well as sharing and reuse for researchers. It is very important that all research publications, including theses are supported by data-sets that can be used to prove the integrity of the research.
Whatever the field and whatever level of privacy is needed for the data, having a plan to manage data for the long term is an essential part of research.
High performance computing Via the sharing of robust infrastructure and high performance computing systems, eResearch facilitates the processes of data management, analysis and reporting across large and complex data sets. It also increases researchers' access to such things as advanced data processing and modelling techniques that would otherwise remain largely inaccessible to smaller institutions and individual researchers due to the costly nature of such systems.
Research collaboration Global and interdisciplinary research collaboration enabled through communication and data sharing capabilities allows researchers to collaborate in real-time through technologies such as video conferencing and other web communication tools. These deliver improved research outcomes by enabling collaborative work data sets by providing shared access to storage and computing resources.
eResearch is here to support research and its processes via the use of information and communication technologies. These ITCs offer to facilitate research development and innovation across both geography and research disciplines.
Blogpost, WWW.WESTERNSYDNEY.EDU.AU, 2018