The Feasibility Study

The feasibility study began in February 2001. The object of the feasibility study was to establish the need for a dedicated research project in the sphere of home-based education and to define the parameters of this research. The group undertaking the feasibility study consisted of two volunteers from the home education community with wide access to the community, backed up by CPE directors, including those with an academic record in the field of home education research and practical experience of home education and alternative community based supports for home education.

The volunteer researchers were:

Dr. Jan Fortune-Wood

Mr. Mike Fortune-Wood.

Questions

Results

Conclusions

Proposal

METHODOLOGY

• To involve as wide a cross section as possible from the home education community in order to set the most appropriate and relevant research questions for the community. In order to do this, a multi media and multi agency approach was employed. Home educators were contacted to give their views on the need for a research project and what research priorities should be.

• To ensure that no duplication of research would be undertaken a survey of previous research and summary of findings was conducted.

The aim was to arrive at a set of clear research targets with well-defined reasons for how they will meet the needs of the community and why research is needed.