Queen Margaret University logo
    • Login
    View Item 
    •   QMU Repositories
    • eResearch
    • School of Arts, Social Sciences and Management
    • Psychology, Sociology and Education
    • View Item
    •   QMU Repositories
    • eResearch
    • School of Arts, Social Sciences and Management
    • Psychology, Sociology and Education
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    The power of ‘evidence’: Reliable science or a set of blunt tools?

    View/Open
    Accepted Version (541.0Kb)
    Date
    2018-05-03
    Author
    Wrigley, Terry
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Citation
    Wrigley, T. (2018) The power of ‘evidence’: Reliable science or a set of blunt tools? British Educational Research Journal, 44(3), pp. 359-376.
    Abstract
    In response to the increasing emphasis on ‘evidence‐based teaching’, this article examines the privileging of randomised controlled trials and their statistical synthesis (meta‐analysis). It also pays particular attention to two third‐level statistical syntheses: John Hattie's Visible learning project and the EEF's Teaching and learning toolkit. The article examines some of the technical shortcomings, philosophical implications and ideological effects of this approach to ‘evidence’, at all these three levels. At various points in the article, aspects of critical realism are referenced in order to highlight ontological and epistemological shortcomings of ‘evidence‐based teaching’ and its implicit empiricism. Given the invocation of the medical field in this debate, it points to critiques within that field, including the need to pay attention to professional experience and clinical diagnosis in specific situations. Finally, it briefly locates the appeal to ‘evidence’ within a neoliberal policy framework.
    URI
    https://eresearch.qmu.ac.uk/handle/20.500.12289/10072
    Official URL
    https://doi.org/10.1002/berj.3338
    Collections
    • Psychology, Sociology and Education

    Queen Margaret University: Research Repositories
    Accessibility Statement | Repository Policies | Contact Us | Send Feedback | HTML Sitemap

     

    Browse

    All QMU RepositoriesCommunities & CollectionsBy YearBy PersonBy TitleBy QMU AuthorBy Research CentreThis CollectionBy YearBy PersonBy TitleBy QMU AuthorBy Research Centre

    My Account

    LoginRegister

    Queen Margaret University: Research Repositories
    Accessibility Statement | Repository Policies | Contact Us | Send Feedback | HTML Sitemap