Scientific Research in Education

Front Cover

Researchers, historians, and philosophers of science have debated the nature of scientific research in education for more than 100 years. Recent enthusiasm for "evidence-based" policy and practice in educationâ€"now codified in the federal law that authorizes the bulk of elementary and secondary education programsâ€"have brought a new sense of urgency to understanding the ways in which the basic tenets of science manifest in the study of teaching, learning, and schooling.

Scientific Research in Education describes the similarities and differences between scientific inquiry in education and scientific inquiry in other fields and disciplines and provides a number of examples to illustrate these ideas. Its main argument is that all scientific endeavors share a common set of principles, and that each fieldâ€"including education researchâ€"develops a specialization that accounts for the particulars of what is being studied. The book also provides suggestions for how the federal government can best support high-quality scientific research in education.

From inside the book

Contents

Executive Summary
1
1 Introduction
11
2 Accumulation of Scientific Knowledge
28
3 Guiding Principles for Scientific Inquiry
50
4 Features of Education and Education Research
80
5 Designs for the Conduct of Scientific Research in Education
97
6 Design Principles for Fostering Science in a Federal Education Research Agency
127
References
158
Biographical Sketches Committee Members and Staff
181
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