Elusive Science The Troubling History of Education Research Book

Lagemann illuminates multiple “troubling” concerns, but a few major factors that stemmed from the historical development include the low reputation of the profession, isolation and funding of the field, a shift to a quantitative focus, and lack of regulation. After presenting a compelling argument for change, Lagemann implies that to improve education, we must improve educational research. Understanding the history and traditions is an importance piece of forward progress. prove what can happen in the future. I can now recognize the cultural and political context that affect the field I operate in currently. But the introduction and conclusion provide a good summary for non-educators.

Interesting Quotes:
"to improve education in enduring ways, we will need to strengthen education research, and to do that, we must change the circumstances that have historically constrained the development of educational study."

"the most powerful forces to have shaped educational scholarship over the last century have
tended to push the field in unfortunate directions-away from close interactions with policy and practice and toward excessive quantification and scientism."

"to overcome the problems that have plagued education research, there will have to be continuing and increased effort to foster a stronger professional community in education"

"An appreciation of history may in itself help strengthen the education research community and, through that, play a role in enhancing the capacity of scholarship to empower those who are involved in educating."