Citizen Science for Environmental Citizenship: How do different approaches to school-based citizen science support environmental citizenship?

The project supervisors are Dr Greg Mannion and Professor Ian Simpson. I have chosen the University of Stirling as the project supervisors have such a strong international reputation in the field of research that I am interested in. My research will gain from the extensive expertise of Dr Mannion in global citizenship, learner participation and citizen science fields. Dr Mannion's international reputation for researching learners' experiences is of particular relevance to my proposed methodological approach. Professor Simpson brings a wealth of experience integrating field-based research into innovative educational programmes for young people. His recent work on the learning outcomes for citizen science participants for the British Trust for Ornithology is of particular relevance to my proposed research.

Since undertaking Masters level study, I have been a committed practitioner researcher, I have extensively used Educational Research to inform and improve my practice as a teacher. Throughout my studies I have developed a deepened understanding of the different approaches to research and the strengths and limitations of these different approaches. My own research has taken a predominantly mixed-methods, case study approach, to inform the teaching and learning of the science and biology classes in my own school and in the local authority area. I have used a mixture of quantitative and qualitative approaches to gain a breadth and depth of findings with my pupils, for example using pre- and post- activity tests to provide numerical and visual evidence of cognitive gain following outdoor and indoor activities. I have also used in depth interviews (both individual and focus groups) with pupils to attain a deeper understanding of the pupils' experiences and perspectives on taking learning outdoors. The Masters in Research in Educational Research will enable me to deepen and strengthen my research skills in advance of commencing the PhD research proposal.