The importance of research for education's future

Education blog: Professor Kit Field discusses the importance of impartial research to improve education standards and the quality of teaching.

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As the Dean of a School of Education, I wanted to take this opportunity to explain why I think research is an important component of education studies and teacher development writes Professor Kit Field.

Research is not always a concept that practitioners, managers and policy makers respect. Too often it is seen as an academic activity conducted by others – to the profession, not with the profession.

But I believe it should be respected. In fact I’d say education professionals are always learning, finding out things, analysing information, adapting their behaviour according to information received, looking to improve and adapting to modern demands. All of this constitutes research - whether professionals want to call it that or not.

Let’s briefly imagine the world of education without research:

1. On what would the learning and teaching experience be based without underpinning research?

If education is not based upon research and evidence, then it runs the risk of being based upon one or more of the following:
•Dogma
•Theory
•Ideology
•Convenience
•Prejudice

Allow me to unpack these:
•Education is a political football and can be used for propaganda and political purposes. I believe that there is a moral dimension to the profession – and to follow dogma blindly is wrong. Education should serve to liberate, and promote democracy and equality of opportunity.
•Similarly ideology can be dangerous. Teachers have a social responsibility – to develop active citizens. To guide one’s practice around an ideology means that evidence can be selected to score political points. Following an ideological route restricts choice, which is the opposite