Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Comparative Education in a Microcosm: Methodological Insights from the International Schools Sector in Hong Kong

  • Chapter
Comparative Education

Abstract

Many studies in the field of comparative education take national education systems as the basic unit of analysis. The present paper has been conceived within this tradition, but has a different angle of approach. It focuses on 47 international schools in a small territory. Some of the international schools were grouped into larger systems but others were free-standing institutions. The focus of the paper thus lies at an intersection between crossnational and intra-national comparisons. It makes methodological observations on the nature of comparisons that are possible within such a microcosm, and on the conceptual lessons that can be derived from such analysis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Adamson, Bob and Li, Titus. 1999. Primary and Secondary Schooling. In: Mark Bray and Ramsey Koo, eds., Education and Society in Hong Kong and Macau: Comparative Perspectives on Continuity and Change (35–57). Hong Kong: Comparative Education Research Centre, The University of Hong Kong.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alexander, Robin. 1999. Comparing Classrooms and Schools. In: Robin Alexander, Patricia Broadfoot and David Phillips, eds., Learning from Comparing: New Directions in Comparative Educational Research, Vol. 1 (109–111). Oxford: Symposium Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alexander, Robin. 2001. Border Crossings: Towards a Comparative Pedagogy. In: Michael Crossley with Peter Jarvis, eds., Comparative Education for the Twenty-First Century: An International Response. Special Number of Comparative Education 37(4): 507–523.

    Google Scholar 

  • Allport, F.H. 1955. Theories of Perception and the Concept of Structure. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Archer, Margaret S. 1984. Social Origins of Educational Systems. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bereday, George Z.F. 1964. Comparative Method in Education. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowring, Philip. 2000. The Figures Tung Overlooks. South China Morning Post [Hong Kong], 16 October.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bray, Mark and Ieong, Pedro. 1996. Education and Social Change: The Growth and Diversification of the International Schools Sector in Hong Kong. International Education 25(2): 49–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bray, Mark and Koo, Ramsey, eds. 1999. Education and Society in Hong Kong and Macau: Comparative Perspectives on Continuity and Change. Hong Kong: Comparative Education Research Centre, The University of Hong Kong.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bray, Mark and Packer, Steve. 1993. Education in Small States: Concepts, Challenges and Strategies. Oxford: Pergamon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bray, Mark and Thomas, R. Murray. 1995. Levels of Comparison in Educational Studies: Different Insights from Different Literatures and the Value of Multilevel Analyses. Harvard Educational Review 65(3): 471–490.

    Google Scholar 

  • Broadfoot, Patricia 1999. Comparing Pupil Achievement. In: Robin Alexander, Patricia Broadfoot and David Phillips, eds., Learning from Comparing: New Directions in Comparative Educational Research, Vol. 1 (197–200). Oxford: Symposium Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crossley Michael. 2001. Reconceptualising Comparative and International Education. In: Keith Watson, ed., Doing Comparative Education Research: Issues and Problems (43–68). Oxford: Symposium Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crossley Michael and Holmes Keith. 1999. Educational Development in the Small States of the Commonwealth: Retrospect and Prospect. London: The Commonwealth Secretariat.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crossley Michael with Jarvis Peter. 2001. Introduction: Context Matters. In: Michael Crossley with Peter Jarvis, eds., Comparative Education for the Twenty-First Century: An International Response. Special Number of Comparative Education 37(4): 405–408.

    Google Scholar 

  • Education Commission. 2000. Review of Education System: Reform Proposals, Hong Kong: Education Commission.

    Google Scholar 

  • Education Department. 1995. Report of the Working Group on the Provision of International School Places. Hong Kong: Education Department.

    Google Scholar 

  • Education Department. 2001. Education Statistics, http://project2.ed.gov.hk/stat.nsf. Hong Kong: Education Department.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elley, Warwick B. 1993. How in the World Do Students Read?. The Hague: International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hong Kong, Government of. 1981. The Hong Kong Education System. Hong Kong: Government Printer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ignas, Edward and Corsini, Raymond J., eds. 1981. Comparative Education Systems. Itasca, Illinois: F.E. Peacock.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnstone, James N. 1981. Indicators of Education Systems. Paris: International Institute for Educational Planning.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jonietz, Patricia and Harris Duncan, eds. 1991. International Schools and International Education. World Yearbook of Education, London: Kogan Page.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kwong, Paul C.K. 1993. Internationalization of Population and Globalization of Families. In: P.K. Choi and L.S. Ho, eds., The Other Hong Kong Report 1993 (147–174). Hong Kong: The Chinese University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Law, Wing Wah. 2000. Schooling and Social Change: The People’s Republic of China. In: K. Mazurek, M.A. Winzer and Majorek, eds., Education in a Global Society: A Comparative Perspective (355–370). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Le Métais, Joanna. 2001. Approaches to Comparing Education Systems. In: Keith Watson, ed., Doing Comparative Education Research: Issues and Problems (197–209). Oxford: Symposium Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lockett, M. and Spear, R., eds. 1980. Organizations as Systems. Milton Keynes: Open University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). 2001a. The OECD Programme for International Student Assessment. http://www.pisa.oecd.org. Paris: OECD.

    Google Scholar 

  • Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). 2001b. Education at a Glance: OECD Indicators. Paris: OECD.

    Google Scholar 

  • Postlethwaite, T. Neville, ed. 1988. The Encyclopedia of Comparative Education and National Systems of Education. Oxford: Pergamon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Postlethwaite, T. Neville and Wiley, David E. 1992. The IEA Study of Science II: Science Achievement in Twenty-Three Countries. Oxford: Pergamon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Postlethwaite, T. Neville. 1998. International Studies of Educational Achievement: Methodological Issues. Hong Kong: Comparative Education Research Centre, The University of Hong Kong.

    Google Scholar 

  • Preston, Rosemary. 2001. Contextual and Methodological Influences on Trends in Comparative and International Educational Research. In: Keith Watson, ed., Doing Comparative Education Research: Issues and Problems (69–84). Oxford: Symposium Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raffe, D., Brannen, K., Croxford, L. and Martin, C. 1999: Comparing England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland: The Case for “Home Internationals” in Comparative Research. Comparative Education 35(1): 9–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rust, Val D. 2001. “Editorial”. Comparative Education Review 45(3): iii-iv.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sweeting, Anthony. 1990. Education in Hong Kong pre-1841 to 1941: Fact and Opinion. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sweeting, Anthony. 1999. Doing Comparative Historical Education Research: Problems and Issues from and about Hong Kong. Compare: A Journal of Comparative Education 29(3): 269–285.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tan, Jee-Peng and Mingat, Alain. 1992. Education in Asia: A Comparative Study of Cost and Financing. Washington DC: The World Bank.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, R. Murray. 1998. Conducting Educational Research: A Comparative View. Westport, Connecticut: Bergin and Garvey.

    Google Scholar 

  • UNESCO. 2000. World Education Report 2000: The Right to Education. Paris: UNESCO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yamato, Yoko. 2003. Education in the Market Place: Hong Kong’s International Schools and their Modes of Operation. Hong Kong: Comparative Education Research Centre, The University of Hong Kong.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wan, Po-San. 1991. The Quality of Life. In: Sung, Yun-Wing and Lee, Ming-Kwan, eds., The Other Hong Kong Report 1991 (421–446). Hong Kong: The Chinese University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watson, Keith. 2001. Comparative Educational Research: The Need for Reconceptualisation and Fresh Insights. In: Keith Watson, ed., Doing Comparative Education Research: Issues and Problems (23–42). Oxford: Symposium Books.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Mark Bray
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yoko Yamato
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Mark Bray

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2003 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Bray, M., Yamato, Y. (2003). Comparative Education in a Microcosm: Methodological Insights from the International Schools Sector in Hong Kong. In: Bray, M. (eds) Comparative Education. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-1094-8_4

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-1094-8_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4020-1143-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-007-1094-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation