Education and theory : strangers in paradigms / Gary Thomas.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Thomas, Gary, 1950-

Series:

Conducting educational research

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Education--Philosophy.

Education.

Theory (Philosophy).

Physical Description:

x, 187 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Maidenhead ; New York : Open University Press, 2007.

Summary:

What is the role of theory in education? Does the pursuit of theory in education always lead to improvements in practice? What is the alternative to theory? Theory holds a central place in educational inquiry: tutors urge students to embed their work in it; funding bodies demand that research proposals be located in it. But in an important new analysis, Gary Thomas suggests that the pursuit of theory in education is the pursuit of a chimera.

This compelling book examines what theory means for both student and researcher and questions whether the confidence in educational theory is justified. It begins by looking at what theory is, and what use it has in education and examines some theoretically significant influences on educational thought and practice in the twentieth century. Challenging the idea that the practice of education should be based on theory, the author offers alternative, simpler frameworks for conducting inquiry, without the constraints of existing theory, contending that it is time for a discussion about how values, evidence and ideas can more straightforwardly guide educational practice. Education and Theory is stimulating reading for academics, researchers, teachers and students of education.

Contents:

1 Journeys to understanding theory 1

The King is dead. Long live the King! 4

The Dr Who view of theory 6

Theory: intoxicant, hypnotic or hallucinogen? 7

Crude attacks on theory 9

The origins of theory's kudos 10

The core of theory: from generalization to conceptual hop-scotch 11

2 What's the use of theory in education? 19

What is theory in education? 21

The problem with theory 29

Against personal or practical theory 31

Against grand theory in education: some case studies 35

Grand theory - and its non-contiguity with scientific theory 43

Theory versus ad hocery 44

3 Where's the theory? Behind you! (Oh no it isn't!) 49

1 If theory applies to all structured thought, it confuses us 51

2 Prestigious theory: its pompous use and its camouflaging effects 54

3 a) theory in education doesn't get treated or tested like theory in natural science; b) in any case, scientists don't use theory in the ways that we presume, and theory discourages innovation 55

4 Ubiquitous theory relegates poor old practice 71

4 Theory and the rational mind 76

Rationalism, consistency and educational theory 76

Rational research, theory and models of mind 79

The tyranny of method 90

Creativity through anarchy 94

5 Theory's spell: on qualitative inquiry and educational research 98

1 Crypto-functionalism: theory is the culprit 101

2 Theory as essential ingredient in social science's offer to policy 108

3 Theory in the humanities? 110

6 The use and abuse of 'theory': grounded theory (with David James) 117

The origins of grounded theory 118

Theory 120

Ground 130

Discovery 134

Developments in grounded theory: what do they offer? 136

Grounded theory misses the best 139

7 Less theory 142

Fewer rules, more thinking 142

Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest? 144

Falling prey to theory hope 146

What kind of thinking? Or, 'What have the Greeks ever done for us?' 148

Chunking and heuristics: the best in the circumstances 151

Corrigibility and metanoia 156

From Procrustean bed to thinking tool: Theories as faces in the clouds 157.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780335211807

0335211801

0335211798

9780335211791

OCLC:

123113625