R Lau

Director of Education and Development for Active Swim. Education Consultant and Ex-Principal. PhD researcher

[Razia Aliani @RaziaAliani]

Peeling back the layers of #research:
Your methodology roadmap 🧅

From reasoning to worldviews, methods to time dimensions - it's all here in one crisp, visual guide.

𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 ⤵

— Outer layer: Research philosophy (positivism, interpretivism, pragmatism)

— Middle layers: Approach, strategy, and choices

— Core: Techniques and procedures

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𝐏𝐫𝐨 𝐭𝐢𝐩:
Start from the outside and work your way in.
Each decision informs the next.
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5 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 ⤵

— Finding focus
See the big picture of research methodologies

— Method matchmaking
Find the perfect approach for your study

— Interdisciplinary insights
Spot connections across different fields

— Time-saver supreme
Quick reference for planning or explaining your research

— Confidence booster
Navigate academic discussions like a pro

There's no one-size-fits-all.
The beauty is in tailoring it to YOUR research.

💬 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭?

[Faheem Ullah @Faheem_uh]

New and FREE courses for PhD researchers in 2026

𝟏. 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐝𝐬
↳ https://t.co/WKIriRHy59

𝟐. 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧: 𝐈𝐧𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲
↳ https://t.co/h0ghCtUDQK

𝟑. 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐝𝐬
↳ https://t.co/ve2upnDe56

𝟒. 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: 𝐑 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐬
↳ https://t.co/2yCQq0COTJ

𝟓. 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠
↳ https://t.co/I7us5oZJgE

𝟔. 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐧
↳ https://t.co/lwGqUASFrW

𝟕. 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬
↳ https://t.co/jO9SWRA56t

𝟖. 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐚 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐏𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫
↳ https://t.co/8Ns38x6CEH

𝟗. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐬
↳ https://t.co/xJRKyqsDOc

𝟏𝟎. 𝐀𝐈 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
↳ https://t.co/ZdjscgNLZ9

𝟏𝟏. 𝐄𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲
↳ https://t.co/n7Es8xU7YX

𝟏𝟐. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬
↳ https://t.co/s7mSV9Yz6d

[Emmanuel Tsekleves @PhDtoProf]

I tested over 100 research tools with my PhD students.

Only 20 made the cut.

I started keeping a list around year 8 of supervising. 18 years later, the list is still 20.

Here they are.

[Emmanuel Tsekleves @PhDtoProf]

Every strong thesis I've examined follows the same structural logic.

Every weak one invents its own.

After examining 45 theses, that is a pattern I cannot unsee.

[Helen Reynolds MBE @helenrey]

The STICKIEST things I've ever taught my Ss is from Graham Nuthall's Hidden Lives of Learners.

‘Rule of Three’ – need to encounter learning material in at least 3 significant ways in order to learn it

Thanks Bennie Kara @teacherhead!

Summary here: https://t.co/O8uDMfRgaw

[Scholarship for PhD @ScholarshipfPhd]

The classic hourglass structure of paper writing

[Oscar Arias @OACerebro]

Enjoy!

https://t.co/YybiZJvXP8

[Emmanuel Tsekleves @PhDtoProf]

During my PhD, I submitted 400 pages of brilliant research.

Supervisor: "None of it makes sense together."

Chapter 3 referenced Chapter 5 findings.
Lit review came after methodology. Introduction promised arguments that never appeared.

"Your research is excellent. Your thesis doesn't tell a story."

[Emmanuel Tsekleves @PhDtoProf]

Mentee came in tears. Supervisor failed his thesis by publication.

He had 3 published papers in top-tier journals. Strong findings.

He thought thesis by publication meant copy-pasting papers between two covers.

"These papers don't connect. Where's the unified story?"

[Jamie Clark @XpatEducator]

🛎️ CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT! This one-page guide highlights the key principles and top routines from highly practical The Classroom Management Handbook by @coachdowley and @ollie_lovell. Grab your copy of the book via @Hachette_Learn - these ideas have helped me personally create calmer, more focused classrooms!

☝️REPOST first and download a FREE HQ copy here: https://t.co/Xj2XpPGvnu

[Ofsted @Ofstednews]

We've just published FAQs from schools about the renewed education inspection framework, including:

When will my school be inspected?
What is the role of the nominee?
What happens on the planning call?

Read the blog post now ⬇️

https://t.co/40bXLmvfyG

[Southgloshead @Southgloshead]

NEW BLOG: OFSTED REFLECTIONS: https://t.co/M3tPWDzPcN

[Brendan O'Sullivan 🇮🇪🇪🇺 @ImtaBrendan]

Amazing Lesson Design Outline - Miguel Guhlin, this is a helpful resource based on research-based classroom strategies packed with lots of useful links. Great for anyone looking for something new in their teaching practice or those just starting out.

https://t.co/Q7X2UAKq63

[R Lau @rlauma1]

@MrMPritchard Enjoy Mark! Recharge the batteries

[Scholarship for PhD @ScholarshipfPhd]

How to Argue

[SoL in the Wild @SoLInTheWild]

Here’s a knowledge organizer to use with the Learning How to Learn unit. Students will keep a copy in their binder w/ their booklet. Below is also a previous thread I posted on using knowledge organizers to make essential knowledge explicit and accessible. https://t.co/wMeoxWLNTP

[R Lau @rlauma1]

Our new website and rebranding of swimming teacher, lifeguard and lifesaving courses based in Hertfordshire and Middlesex.
Swim Education under Active Swim
@Swim_England @SE_Quals @STA_HQ @RLSSUK
#swimteacher

[Jamie Clark @XpatEducator]

📣 There’s a bank of over 50 evidence-informed A3 guides available to download for FREE from my website. Useful for building knowledge and developing a shared understanding about learning.

🙏 Support my work by tapping REPOST and collect them all here: https://t.co/QKGJjjeiKT

[R Lau @rlauma1]

RLSS National Pool Lifeguarding Qualification courses at Twickenham, Middlesex and Rickmansworth, Herts.
@RLSSUK
#lifeguard

[R Lau @rlauma1]

Swim England Teacher Training courses - Level 1 and 2 at Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire and Twickenham, Middlesex
@Swim_England @SE_Quals #swimming