Researching education policy, public policy, and policymakers : qualitative methods and ethical issues / Dan Gibton.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Part I.Policy studies and qualitative research -- 1.Introduction: studying senior policymakers and policy in educaiton via qualitative research methods -- 2.The case for qualitative research in education policy: rational and examples -- 3.Designing and planning the qualitative policy study -- Part II.Methodology and study design -- 4.Document analysis as a policy research tool -- 5.Open-closed-open: the promises and perils of interviews with policymakers -- 6.Observing policy: the art of policy watching -- 7.Mapping qualitative policy analysis methods: toolbox, totem, or taboo -- 8.Writing a policy report - crafting a policy story: how to turn private knowledge into public knowledge -- Part III.Ethics in qualitative policy studies -- 9.An ethical paradigm for studying education policy and people 0f status and power: mapping the terrain -- 10.Building trust, abusing trust? The art of confidentiality, intellectual vality, and informed consent.

This is a theoretical and hands-on practical guide to conducting qualitative research on education policy and public policy, with an emphasis on studies that involve senior participants and high-status government and non-government organisations. Building on over a decade of extensive experience in qualitative research on education policy among the most senior policymakers, the book explores and illustrates successful approaches to working with senior policymakers through examples from both the UK and Israel.