Carla Quesada Pallarès
Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain
SIG Coordinator
Coordinators
Mission Statement
Research methods are at the core of any empirical study. Learning researchers have at their disposal a rich repertoire of different qualitative, quantitative, and mixed method designs that correspond with different underlying methodological and epistemological paradigms. These methods are associated with various units of analysis on individual and collective levels.
The aim of the SIG is to offer a forum and platform for all those who wish to engage in discussions, dialogues, reflections, and joint collaborations on methods in learning research. In doing so, the SIG is open for all methods, methodologies, and epistemologies that address the processes, practices, and outcomes of human learning. Some key questions are:
- How does learning theory inform the use and development of methods?
- What are the affordances of different epistemologies? What are their consequences for units of analysis, re-constructions, and operationalizations to study how humans learn?
- (How) Should we integrate, combine, and mix methods in learning research? What are the potential pitfalls and benefits?
- Which new and innovative methods and approaches emerge in the field? How do they inform the study of learning and instruction?
- How can we ensure robustness and rigor when applying methods in learning research?
- How can (new) scholars be educated and trained about methods in learning research?
EARLI Methods Chat
EARLI Methods Chats are low-key meetings in which EARLI members gather to talk about their experiences, ideas, questions... regarding a specific methodological topic. They are designed for both junior and senior researchers, for beginners, experts, and anyone in between. The idea is that we can all learn from each other. Whoever you are, please join us if you want to chat about methods and meet like-minded peers!
Teams-Link to the Methods Chat
Upcoming Methods Chats
Fostering Student Voice, Agency and Engagement in Educational Research? - Exploring Photovoice Methodology Use with Youth in Alternative Education Settings
Date: 28th January 2026, 1-2pm
Speaker: Sara Lannin, PhD Candidate, University College Dublin
Sara Lannin is a PhD candidate with the School of Education at University College Dublin and a research and policy officer in the housing and homelessness charity sector in Ireland. Sara is on an innovative employment-based programme funded by Research Ireland, both developing research in the NGO sector and working towards her PhD. Through using participatory action research methods, the focus of her PhD is on exploring access and engagement to education for youth in underserved communities, with a specific focus on youth homelessness prevention. Sara’s ongoing research is complemented by her existing educational background with a BA(Hons) in Psychology and MSc in Education, Children and Youth.
From classroom to cohort: Practical lessons learned from longitudinal fieldwork with primary school children
Date: February 2026 (exact date will be announced soon)
Speaker: Hannah Stynes, Researcher, University College Dublin
Hannah Stynes is the fieldwork manager for the Children's School Lives Study at UCD, a national longitudinal cohort study of primary schooling in Ireland. She is also completing her PhD at UCL Institute of Education, with a focus on how classroom interactions and group dynamics shape longer-term socioemotional development.
Low Hanging Fruits to Increase the Reproducibility of Your Research
Date: 09th of March, 2026, 1-2pm
Speaker: Jürgen Schneider, DIPF Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Info: Reproducibility, i.e. the ability to recreate reported results using the same data and analysis, constitutes a core principle of scientific inquiry, enabling the verification, error detection, and cumulative advancement of knowledge. What sounds self-evident stands in stark contrast to current practice: educational research faces persistent reproducibility challenges when essential research materials remain inaccessible or inadequately documented. This methods chat addresses reproducibility through two interconnected practices: reproducible reporting and FAIR management of materials. Reproducible reporting, implemented through literate programming approaches like Quarto (or jamovi/ JASP as an alternative), enables researchers to document their complete analytical workflow—from raw data through final results—in human-readable and executable formats. FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) establish systematic standards for research management that facilitate long-term reuse by both human researchers and computational systems. Together, these practices transform reproducibility from an aspirational ideal into a concrete, implementable standard. The methods chat discusses low hanging fruits for implementation, addresses common concerns about resource constraints and competitive pressures, and demonstrates how reproducible practices strengthen rather than burden the research process in educational science.
Past Methods Chats
The Bayesian Way: Updating Imprecise Knowledge with New Data
June, 3rd 2024 (1-2pm CEST)
Discussant: Robert Threlfall (rthrelfall@secure-systems.org)
See Robert's slides here.
Panel Discussion: Career Opportunities on Research Methods Inside and Outside Academia
February, 4th 2025, 1pm - 2pm (CET)
Prof. Dr. Judith Schoonenboom (Professor for Empirical Pedagogy; University of Vienna; judith.schoonenboom@univie.ac.at) and Dr. Paulina Robalino (Independent Consultant and Speaker on Employee Experience & Data Analytics; paulina.e.robalino@gmail.com) are experienced researchers inside and outside academia and discussed strategies and career opportunities in order to enrich our career planning with valuable perspectives and experiences.
Noticing in Action: Using Video Vignettes and Qualitative Content Analysis to Explore Pre-Service Teachers‘ Competence Development
December 10th 2024, 1pm-2pm (CET)
Discussant: Dr. Denis Weger (University of Vienna, Austria; denis.weger@univie.ac.at)
Tackling Challenges in Education with Educational Design Research
May 14th 2024, 1pm - 2pm
Discussant: Dr. Denis Weger (University of Vienna; denis.weger@univie.ac.at)
Joint Poetic Transcription: Discussions about the Art and Method
April 23rd 2024, 1pm-2pm
Discussant: Felipe Sanchez Burgos (Lancaster University, UK; fsanchezb@gmail.com)
Measuring and Triangulating Implicit and Explicit Attitudes
February 7th 2024, 1pm-2pm
Discussant: Aldin Alijagic (University of Augsburg, Germany; aldin.alijagic@uni-a.de)
Eye-Tracking as a Process-Based Methodology to Assess Teachers’ Professional Vision
January 10th 2024, 1pm-2pm
Discussant: Dr. Ann-Sophie Grub (Saarland University, Germany; annsophie.grub@uni-saarland.de)
Connecting the Dots: The Power of Network Analysis in Conjunction with SEM and CFA
November 29th 2023, 1pm-2pm
Discussant: Dr. Paulina Robalino (SILK Research Centre, Spain; paulina.e.robalino@gmail.com)
Upcoming Conferences
SIG 17 Biannual Conference 2026
The EARLI SIG 10, SIG 17, SIG 21 and SIG 25 are organising a joint conference!
Theme: Meaningful Metamorphoses: Navigating Learning and Instruction in/ for Times of Change
Date: March 25-27, 2026
Location: University of Augsburg, Germany
Past Conferences
SIG 4 & 17 Biannual Conference 2024
- Teme: Navigating the Changing Landscape: Embracing Innovation and Evidence in Higher Education
- Date: 25th - 27th of September, 2024
- Place: Utrecht, Netherlands
- Conference Website
SIG 17 Biennial Conference 2020 (CANCELLED)
- Theme: Tidying the toolbox: trials, blunders, and challenges overcome in research on learning and education
- Date: 9th - 10th of September, 2020
- Place: Vienna, Austria
SIG 17 & 25 Biennial Conference 2018
- Theme: Dialogue between ontology and epistemology - New perspectives on theory and methodology in research on learning and education
- Date: 27th - 28th of August, 2018
- Place: Cambridge University, United Kingdom