RESEARCH IN MUSICAL EDUCATION WITHIN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES. REFLECTIONS FROM UNITED KINGDOM

This article considers the foundations and role of research in music education and positions them within the Social Sciences. Taking a global perspective facilitated by the author's work in three jurisdictions and his collaborations with colleagues from the five continents (e.g. Odena & Figueiredo, 2014), practical suggestions for researchers and research supervisors are provided. The article is divided into six sections focussed on: (1) defining social research; (2) positioning music education research within the Social Sciences; (3) an overview of music education research developments and approaches over the last sixty years; (4) factors affecting research dissemination, including language, intellectual trends and local contexts; (5) the apparent gap between educational research and practice, and the role of research tutors in developing students' research ethics and skills; and (6) some final suggestions for designing and implementing enquiry projects.