Evidence based practice in education: Between science and democracy

Gert Biesta*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract / Description of output

In this chapter I provide a critical review of the suggestion that education should be turned into an evidence-based or evidence-informed profession and that educational research therefore focus on generating knowledge about 'what works.' I focus on three aspects of the discussion: the notion of educational practice, views about knowledge, and the ways in which research can be of practical use; in order to identify key ideas and assumptions and submit them to critical scrutiny. In all three cases I identify a tendency that the outcomes of a particular kind of educational research replace professional and democratic judgement. I provide an alternative way of understanding educational practice, educational knowledge and its practical use that places judgement back at the centre of educational considerations.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationA Companion to Research in Education
PublisherSpringer
Pages391-400
Number of pages10
Volume9789400768093
ISBN (Electronic)9789400768093
ISBN (Print)9400768087, 9789400768086
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Oct 2014

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • Educational practice
  • Educational research
  • Evidence-based practice
  • Practical roles of research
  • Pragmatism

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