Open Lectures in Educational Research Methods. This series is aimed at PGT/PGR students and staff members within the School of Education and the College of Social Sciences. The series will run once a month on Wednesday afternoons for 90 minutes (including Q&A) at St Andrew’s Building Room 230. The presentations will focus on research methods which are not necessarily in a “textbook” manner but more oriented towards relative ‘novice’ researchers in social sciences. Through interactive and collaborative knowledge exchanges, the series will encourage participants to actively engage with research practices and perspectives, supporting them in building a bridge between theory and practice. Following each session (3:00-4:30 pm), we invite participants to continue discussions at a nearby pub/café to promote learning and networking in our research community. Conveners: Utkun Aydin, Lecturer in Mathematics Education Utkun.Aydin@glasgow.ac.uk Jack Lee, Senior, Lecturer in Higher Education Jack.Lee@glasgow.ac.uk

15 October 2025: Dr Utkun Aydin - Survey Research Beyond the Checkbox: Methods, Pitfalls, and Practice

Survey Research Beyond the Checkbox: Methods, Pitfalls, and Practice

Dr Utkun Aydin

Wednesday 15th October
15:00-16:30
Room 230, St Andrew's Building

This seminar introduces key principles of survey research in education, covering design, implementation and analysis. We examine core methods, common pitfalls and practical strategies for effective design and analysis. Through lecture and hands-on activities, participants gain tools to craft reliable surveys and interpret findings with confidence.

About the speaker:

Dr Utkun Aydin, Lecturer in Initial Teacher Education – Mathematics Education

Utkun started her career as a research assistant and took a PhD in Secondary Science and Mathematics Education from Middle East Technical University, Turkey.  She has 20 years of experience of working full-time in international higher education institutions, teaching mathematics, mathematics education, and advanced research methods courses; moderating these courses; and participating in committees of learning and curriculum. Utkun’s research focuses on mathematics education, test anxiety, metacognition, test development/adaptation, and school-university partnerships. She is particularly interested in experimental designs, structural equation modeling, and multilevel modeling techniques. She participated as a data analysis advisor of several research projects supported by European Cooperation in Science and Technology and the Turkish Scientific and Technological Research Council. She is one of the members of Math Team at School of Education who took Teaching Excellence Award at College Level (2023), co-leaders of Quantitative Methods in Education SIG and associates of Centre for Transformative Change in Schools (CenTCS).

X handle: @Utkun79

Reading list

  • Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2007). Research methods in education. RoutledgeFalmer.
  • Fraenkel, J. R., Wallen, N. E., & Hyun, H. H. (2012). How to design and evaluate research in education. Mc Graw Hill.
  • Gay, L. R., Mills, G. E., & Airasian, P. (2012). Educational research: Competencies for analysis and applications. Pearson Education.
  • Nardi, P. M. (2018). Doing survey research: A guide to quantitative methods. Routledge.
  • Rea, L., & Parker, R. (1992). Designing and conducting survey research: A comprehensive guide. Jossey-Bass.

More information on future lectures coming soon!

Lecture Archive

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Lecture Archive