Shifting perceptions of inclusive practitioner research: Epistemological affordances of exploratory practice

Abstract

Over the past two decades, ‘inclusivity’ has become a key issue in research in applied linguistics and language education. However, the inclusion of teachers, teacher educators, and learners as researchers with key insights into their contexts has not yet been fully examined. This thought-piece explores developments in inclusive practitioner research, specifically focusing on exploratory practice (EP). The article probes the notion of inclusivity, asking why inclusivity matters and what does it mean for practitioner researchers. It sheds new light on inclusivity in exploratory practice, amplifying and deepening understandings, and shifting perceptions of what it means to be inclusive, as it examines the contributions practitioners make to debates about/around social justice.