The research group, A.R.E.A. (Analysis of the Reality of Education in Andalusia), registered as HUM-672 with the Autonomous Government of Andalusia, was created in 1998. It is a large interdisciplinary team whose main aim is to analyse any educational reality that affects a person’s development. Thus, its field of study embraces formal, non-formal and informal education.

Currently, its research is most concerned with three areas: the new technologies in their application to education; the increase and development of non-formal education as part of training and professionalisation; and the study of educational leadership in all its aspects. At the same time, the group has also been carrying out outstanding studies on special education.