Abstracts
BERA 2008 Abstract Database
To view all the abstracts being presented at the 2008 BERA Annual Conference Please Click Here
Regulations for the Submission of Abstracts
Regulations For Submission
- All abstracts should be submitted through this website.
- The deadline for the submission of abstracts for Keynote Symposia is Friday 11 January 2008.
- The deadline for the submission of abstracts for the Student and Main Conference is Friday 25 January 2008.
- Authors may offer no more than two submissions (excluding poster sessions) on which they appear as lead presenter.
- Only students or new researchers may submit proposals to the Student Conference. Participants may not submit the same paper to the Student and Main Conference.
- All symposia, individual papers and posters when submitted must indicate the SIG which most closely relates to the topic of their paper.
- Authors of individual papers can opt for their proposal to be considered for ‘oral presentation only’ or for ‘oral or poster presentation’. Authors choosing this latter option would be offered a poster presentation even if their oral presentation was rejected in the review process.
- All individual papers and papers within symposia will be peer reviewed anonymously.
- The corresponding author (the person who submits the poster/paper/symposium) is responsible for communicating to co-authors and, in the case of symposia, to lead presenters of individual papers the decisions of the reviewers and the dates and times of the presentations.
- The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that the lead presenter is registered by June 2nd 2008 or the paper/symposium will be removed from the programme. All deadlines will be enforced firmly
- The reviews are of the abstract of a paper (not a presentation). It is expected that each presenting author will provide a full paper 4000 – 6000 words in length for distribution at the conference (not just powerpoint handouts).
- All conference presenters are encouraged to submit their full conference paper to the EDUCATION-LINE collection for indexing and permanent on-line archiving. EDUCATION-LINE currently contains over 1000 BERA papers among its total of over 4000 texts. Papers can be sent before, during or after the conference. Guidelines for submission can be found here. Papers in the Education-line collection are also listed in the British Education Index.
Instructions for the Submission of Abstracts
Keynote Symposia Format
The Keynote Symposia are a special feature of the BERA conference. There will be six 90 minute symposia; three per day on
Thursday and Friday during the lunch time period. In order to ensure that the quality of these sessions is high, and that they are
likely to warrant this privileged position in the programme, they are selected by open competition. Symposium not chosen for these
sessions will automatically be entered into t he main conference review process and will be reviewed (using the same criteria) with
other submissions. If you wish to be considered for a Keynote Symposium you may submit only one proposal where you are the lead presenter. The
proposal should include an overview (maximum) 400 words together with the title of the symposium and the name(s) and
affiliation(s) of the Convenor, Chair and Discussant. It is expected that each symposium has a named Chair and Discussant, as well
as a Convenor. An additional supporting statement of (maximum) 600 words, explaining the importance of the research addressed
by the symposium (e.g. its timeliness; contribution to new knowledge etc. - see selection criteria below) should also be submitted.
The symposium should comprise 3 or 4 individual papers (maximum 6), each submitted with an abstract of (maximum) 1000
words which must include all references, titles authors and their affiliations. Symposia should be submitted under the SIG which they feel most closely represents the topic area.
After submission each proposal will be reviewed by two members of BERA Council and/or members of the National Advisory Panel. The selection will be based on a combination of the five criteria for the assessment of all abstracts (to be found on page 5) together with the following four criteria:
- High quality of the research and overall coherence of the papers;
- Timeliness of the research in the current educational context;
- National/international significance of the research;
- Demonstrable impact of the research upon practice, policy or theory.
The submission will be rated against the 9 criteria on a 6 point scale which will equate to numerical scores covering very good, good, satisfactory, unsatisfactory, weak and very weak (see page 6). Authors will receive numerical feedback and brief comments.
Please note that the Conference Committee reserve the right to make the final selection of keynote symposium in order to ensure an even spread and good balance of presentations. It is the expectation that presenter(s) should have full written papers, 4000 – 6000 words in length, to distribute in the session.
Student Conference Session Formats
Individual Papers - Not Refereed
Papers are oral presentations of 15- 20 minutes and will be scheduled in 75 minute themed sessions which will normally include
3 or 4 papers. An abstract of (maximum) 600 words is required together with the title, author(s) and affiliation(s). When abstracts
are submitted they must be linked to the SIG that most closely represents the topic of their paper.
The presenter(s) should have full written papers, 4000 – 6000 words in length, to distribute in the session.
Posters - Not Refereed
Posters are largely graphic presentations, which may be accompanied by a (maximum) 5 minute oral presentation. An abstract of
(maximum) 600 words is required together with the title, author and affiliations. When abstracts are submitted they must be linked
to the SIG (see listing on page 6) that most closely represents their topic. Poster presenter(s) should have the abstract available,
but a written paper of 1000 – 2000 words may also be provided.
Main Conference Session Formats
Symposia - Refereed
Symposia are 90 minute conference sessions, organised by convenors, and usually structured to include 4 papers (maximum 6) or
3 papers and a discussant. The title of the symposium, plus the name(s) and affiliation(s) of the convenor and discussant (where
appropriate) and an overview of (maximum) 400 words should be submitted, together with abstracts of (maximum) 1000 words
which must include all references, titles, authors and their affiliations. Guidance on the writing of abstracts can be found below.
Presenters(s) of each paper should have a written paper length 4000 – 6000 words, to distribute at the symposium. The symposium must be linked to the SIG that the convenor/corresponding author feel most closely represents the topic. Each symposium is strictly one 90 minutes session. If a group of researchers or a SIG wish to link symposia in the programme they must submit each separately and specify who will present in which symposium. It should be indicated on the on-line submission form that this is part of a linked series. A symposium may be organized more flexibly, for example in the form of a workshop or expert panel discussion, if you think the symposium you wish to submit is of this nature please contact In Conference who will provide further information.
Individual Papers - Refereed
Papers are oral presentations and will be scheduled in 90 minute themed sessions which will normally include a maximum of 4 papers, each of which will be given approximately 20 minutes for presentation. An abstract of (maximum) 1000 words should be submitted, which must include all references, titles, authors and their affiliations. Guidance on the writing of abstracts can be found below. When abstracts are submitted they must be linked to a SIG that author(s) feel most closely represents the topic of the paper. Presenters(s) should have a written paper, length 4000 – 6000 words, to distribute in the session.
Posters - Not Refereed
Posters are largely graphic presentations, which may be accompanied by a (maximum) 5 minute oral presentation. Poster presenter(s) should have an abstract available, but a written paper of 1000 – 2000 words may be provided. An abstract of 600 words (maximum) is required together with the title, author(s) and affiliation(s). When abstracts are submitted they must be linked to the SIG which most closely represents the topic of the paper.
The Review Process
Abstract Structure
Abstracts submitted for the main conference should not exceed 1000 words (as above) and should address the following:
- Background to the topic;
- Research questions and/or focus of enquiry;
- Research methods and/or mapping of literature;
Criteria For Assessment of Abstracts
Paper abstracts will be assessed using the following criteria:
- Relevance of topic to BERA members;
- Clarity of research question(s) or focus of enquiry;
- Appropriateness of research method(s) and/or literature;
In addition, the 400 word overview submitted with symposia should focus on the overall coherence of the symposium.
- Robustness of analytical and/or theoretical frame;
- Significance for educational practice, policy or theory.
- Analytical and/or theoretical frame;
- Research findings and/or contribution to knowledge.
Special Interest Groups
BERA SIGs vary in character, function and level of activities and participation in them is one of the benefits of being in BERA. When submitting your abstract you must link it to an appropriate SIG.
| Assessment Comparative and International Education Creativity in Education Early Childhood Educational Research and Educational Policy-making Educational Effectiveness and Improvement Higher Education Inclusive Education Leading and Managing Schools and Colleges Learning in the Professions Literacy and Language Mathematics Education Mentoring and Coaching Neuroscience and Education New Technologies in Education |
Philosophy of Education Physical Education and Sports Pedagogy Post-Compulsory and Lifelong Learning Practitioner Research Primary School Teacher’s Work Race’ Ethnicity and Education Religious and Moral Education Research Methodology in Education Science Education Sexualities Social Justice Social Theory and Education Socio-cultural and Cultural-historical Activity Theory Teacher Education and Development |
There will be a designated SIG area in the exhibition area which you should visit during the conference for more information on individual SIGs.
Posters
Poster boards are 1.00m wide x 2.00m high. It is recommended that displays do not exceed 1.5m in length. Posters can be put up from 09.00hrs on Wednesday 3rd and should be removed before 15.00hrs on Saturday 6th September. The organisers cannot be held responsible for any posters left after this time. Further information on the poster presentations will be sent in the confirmation letters.
Audio Visual
Overhead Projector will be available on request only. A data projector, computer, flipchart, and a screen will be provided in each meeting room. We advise you to bring a copy of your presentation on CD and memory stick. There will be a charge for any other equipment which needs to be hired in, please fill in the Audio Visual section on the abstract submission form and the Conference Organisers will contact you with a cost.