This book is about scientific inquiry. Designed for early and mid-career
researchers, it is a practical manual for conducting and communicating
high-quality research in (mathematics) education. Based on the authors'
extensive experience as researchers, as mentors, and as members of the
editorial team for the Journal for Research in Mathematics Education
(JRME), this book directly speaks to researchers and their communities
about each phase of the process for conceptualizing, conducting, and
communicating high-quality research in (mathematics) education.
In the late 2010s, both JRME and Educational Studies in Mathematics
celebrated 50 years of publishing high-quality research in mathematics
education. Many advances in the field have occurred since the
establishment of these journals, and these anniversaries marked a
milestone in research in mathematics education. Indeed, fifty years
represents a small step for human history but a giant leap for
mathematics education. The educational research community in general
(and the mathematics education community in particular) has strongly
advocated for original research, placing great emphasis on building
knowledge and capacity in the field. Because it is an interdisciplinary
field, mathematics education has integrated means and methods for
scientific inquiry from multiple disciplines. Now that the field is
gaining maturity, it is a good time to take a step back and
systematically consider how mathematics education researchers can engage
in significant, impactful scientific inquiry.
