The challenges of capturing learning: Units of analysis in the study of human growth

This article is a commentary to the contributions in the special issue on Units of analysis in learning research: Approaches for imagining a transformative agenda. The articles demonstrate the importance of carefully considering the units of analysis that are used in research, and the consistency between how data are generated, organized, analysed and what claims are made in terms of results. All articles document how the authors have encountered such issues in their empirical research. As the authors point out, in some cases the unit of analysis will emerge through the analysis, rather than be given in advance. Attending to the role of units of analysis in research will contribute to conceptual clarity in various phases of the research process. Deliberate observation relies on theoretical perspectives but still needs to be adapted to concrete research interests.