An Introduction to the Study of Education
5th Edition
Published on 18. December 2025
422 pages
978-1-040-76617-0 (ISBN)
Description
This fully updated, fifth edition of An Introduction to the Study of Education provides a comprehensive and reflective introduction to the study of education, inviting students to question what education is, who it is for and what purpose it serves. Taking the reader from the early years through to lifelong learning, it examines all forms of education and learning.
This new edition includes nine completely new chapters and a step-by-step guide to essay writing. This fifth edition provides:
a full exploration of the historical, sociological, philosophical and psychological roots of education
a clear focus on the individual levels of education - preschool, compulsory, post-compulsory and lifelong learning, including looked after children, food in school, and digital learning
the latest debates within special educational needs
an in-depth examination of learning styles
insights into the historical development of education and the role of, and background to, research in education
a focus on current educational practice and diversity across the United Kingdom and Ireland
Written in a clear and accessible style, this is the essential core text for all beginning students on undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Education Studies and all those interested in education today, where it came from and where it is going.
This new edition includes nine completely new chapters and a step-by-step guide to essay writing. This fifth edition provides:
a full exploration of the historical, sociological, philosophical and psychological roots of education
a clear focus on the individual levels of education - preschool, compulsory, post-compulsory and lifelong learning, including looked after children, food in school, and digital learning
the latest debates within special educational needs
an in-depth examination of learning styles
insights into the historical development of education and the role of, and background to, research in education
a focus on current educational practice and diversity across the United Kingdom and Ireland
Written in a clear and accessible style, this is the essential core text for all beginning students on undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Education Studies and all those interested in education today, where it came from and where it is going.
More details
Edition
5th edition
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Illustrations
5 Tables, black and white; 9 Line drawings, black and white; 9 Illustrations, black and white
File size
40,28 MB
ISBN-13
978-1-040-76617-0 (9781040766170)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
David Matheson
An Introduction to the Study of Education
Book
12/2025
5th Edition
Routledge
€212.50
Shipment within 10-20 days
David Matheson
An Introduction to the Study of Education
Book
12/2025
5th Edition
Routledge
€67.90
Shipment within 10-20 days
Previous edition
David Matheson
An Introduction to the Study of Education
E-Book
09/2014
4th Edition
Routledge
€59.49
Available for download
Person
David Matheson is an Associate Professor at the University of Wolverhampton and has extensive experience as an educator and researcher in higher education, adult education and secondary education.
Content
1. What is Education?
David Matheson
2. Ideology in Education in the United Kingdom
Catherine Matheson-Monnet
3. Philosophy in Education
Stephen Newman
4. Psychology in Education
Graham Mitchell & Callum E. Cooper
5. Learning Styles
John Pelley
6. Thinking about Assessment
Pete Bennett, Louise Curry and Helen Sinar-Platt
7. Online and Digital Education: a Critical Account
John Traxler
8. Schooling Food: Why Does it Matter?
Gurpinder Singh Lalli and Ellen Bishop
9. Early Childhood Education and Care in the UK
Eunice Lumsden
10. Children Looked After
Catherine Lamond
11. Social and Spatial Disparity in the History of School Provision in England from the 1750s to the 1950s
Colin Brock
12. Schooling in Ireland: Policy and Practice from Penal Times to the Present Day
Deirdre Raftery and Martina Relihan
13. Education in Scotland
David Matheson and Stephen McKinney
14. Education in Wales
Alison Murphy and Michelle Brinn
15. Compulsory Education in the United Kingdom
Ian Menter, Carmel Gallagher, Louise Hayward, Dominic Wyse and David Matheson
16. Lifelong learning
Catherine Matheson-Monnet and David Matheson
17. Special Educational Needs in the British context
Mary Kellett and Mike Lambert
18. Why Class Still Matters: A Case Study of University Access, a Mirror to the Education System
David Thompson
19. Gender and Education
Catherine Matheson-Monnet
20. Race as a Critical Lens in Education
Adam Vasco
21. Debates in Educational Research
Abdeljalil Akkari and Bernard Wentzel
22. Research in Professional Contexts
Catherine Matheson-Monnet and David Matheson
23. The Benefits of Using Co-creation in Higher Education
Anne Temple Clothier and David Matheson
24. Afterword: Now that I have read about Education, how do I write about it?
David Matheson
David Matheson
2. Ideology in Education in the United Kingdom
Catherine Matheson-Monnet
3. Philosophy in Education
Stephen Newman
4. Psychology in Education
Graham Mitchell & Callum E. Cooper
5. Learning Styles
John Pelley
6. Thinking about Assessment
Pete Bennett, Louise Curry and Helen Sinar-Platt
7. Online and Digital Education: a Critical Account
John Traxler
8. Schooling Food: Why Does it Matter?
Gurpinder Singh Lalli and Ellen Bishop
9. Early Childhood Education and Care in the UK
Eunice Lumsden
10. Children Looked After
Catherine Lamond
11. Social and Spatial Disparity in the History of School Provision in England from the 1750s to the 1950s
Colin Brock
12. Schooling in Ireland: Policy and Practice from Penal Times to the Present Day
Deirdre Raftery and Martina Relihan
13. Education in Scotland
David Matheson and Stephen McKinney
14. Education in Wales
Alison Murphy and Michelle Brinn
15. Compulsory Education in the United Kingdom
Ian Menter, Carmel Gallagher, Louise Hayward, Dominic Wyse and David Matheson
16. Lifelong learning
Catherine Matheson-Monnet and David Matheson
17. Special Educational Needs in the British context
Mary Kellett and Mike Lambert
18. Why Class Still Matters: A Case Study of University Access, a Mirror to the Education System
David Thompson
19. Gender and Education
Catherine Matheson-Monnet
20. Race as a Critical Lens in Education
Adam Vasco
21. Debates in Educational Research
Abdeljalil Akkari and Bernard Wentzel
22. Research in Professional Contexts
Catherine Matheson-Monnet and David Matheson
23. The Benefits of Using Co-creation in Higher Education
Anne Temple Clothier and David Matheson
24. Afterword: Now that I have read about Education, how do I write about it?
David Matheson
