Evidence-informed policies and auto/biographical research Morwenna Griffiths School of Education Edinburgh University [email_address]

Outline of talk What sort of ‘evidence’ or ‘research’? Value-free, factual, certain and universal, empirical educational research Epistemologies of the practical, unique and particular Policy makers drawing on auto/biographical stories in educational research. Some conclusions for educational researchers

What sort of ‘evidence’ or ‘research’?

Value-free, factual, certain and universal, empirical educational research

Epistemologies of the practical, unique and particular

Policy makers drawing on auto/biographical stories in educational research.

Some conclusions for educational researchers

Research-informed/ evidence-informed policy and strategy: what do leaders need? Value-free?... … Information and facts?... … Which are certain and universally applicable?

Value-free?...

… Information and facts?...

… Which are certain and universally applicable?

Value free? For education: Values On the side of Action-oriented, passionate (Compare ‘about education’)

For education:

Values

On the side of

Action-oriented, passionate

(Compare ‘about education’)

Information and facts? i.e. Knowledge that. .. But also: Knowledge how to Practical wisdom Understanding: conceptualisation, realisation. Positionality and seeing things differently.

i.e. Knowledge that. .. But also:

Knowledge how to

Practical wisdom

Understanding: conceptualisation, realisation.

Positionality and seeing things differently.

Universally applicable? (i.e. over time and place)

Epistemology of the practical, unique and particular Aristotle: Practical wisdom Cavarero, Arendt: Plurality, Reciprocal dependency, Natality

Practical Wisdom Aristotle provided a rich analysis of the kind of knowledge that guides and is well fitted to, characteristically human – and therefore inescapably ethical – activity (praxis)…. The materials of human affairs, he believes, are subject to such variety and fluctuation that they do not lend themselves to exceptionless, universal formulation. Joseph Dunne ‘Practical Reason’

Aristotle provided a rich analysis of the kind of knowledge that guides and is well fitted to, characteristically human – and therefore inescapably ethical – activity (praxis)…. The materials of human affairs, he believes, are subject to such variety and fluctuation that they do not lend themselves to exceptionless, universal formulation.

Joseph Dunne ‘Practical Reason’

Plurality Plurality is the condition of human action because we are all the same, that is, human, in such a way that nobody is ever the same as anyone else who ever lived, lives, or will live. Arendt, The Human Condition

Plurality is the condition of human action because we are all the same, that is, human, in such a way that nobody is ever the same as anyone else who ever lived, lives, or will live.

Arendt, The Human Condition

Reciprocal dependency: Belonging The human being who has lost his place in a community, his political status..and legal personality … can be adequately dealt with only by the unpredictably hazards of friendship and sympathy or by the great and incalculable grace of love. Arendt Totalitarianism

The human being who has lost his place in a community, his political status..and legal personality … can be adequately dealt with only by the unpredictably hazards of friendship and sympathy or by the great and incalculable grace of love.

Arendt Totalitarianism

Reciprocal dependency: I and we ‘ I’ is a fragment rather than an atom (I am always part of a ‘we’). Griffiths Feminisms and the Self

‘ I’ is a fragment rather than an atom (I am always part of a ‘we’).

Griffiths Feminisms and the Self

Natality The frailty of human institutions and laws and, generally, of all matters pertaining to men's living together, arises from the human condition of natality and is quite independent of the frailty of human nature. Arendt The Human Condition

The frailty of human institutions and laws and, generally, of all matters pertaining to men's living together, arises from the human condition of natality and is quite independent of the frailty of human nature.

Arendt The Human Condition

Epistemological questions Soundness: Truthfulness Validity Strong Well-grounded or justifiable Having a conclusion correctly derived from premises

Soundness:

Truthfulness

Validity

Strong

Well-grounded or justifiable

Having a conclusion correctly derived from premises

Sound auto/biographical research Truthfulness: accuracy and sincerity. Representativeness. Representation. Re-framing of the matter at hand. Genre. Literary quality. Reflexivity.

Truthfulness: accuracy and sincerity.

Representativeness.

Representation.

Re-framing of the matter at hand.

Genre.

Literary quality.

Reflexivity.

Uses by policy makers L. Gow and A. McPherson: Tell them from me Pamela Munn et al.: Positive school discipline Ann Pirrie, Gale Macleod et al: Excluded pupils

L. Gow and A. McPherson:

Tell them from me

Pamela Munn et al.:

Positive school discipline

Ann Pirrie, Gale Macleod et al:

Excluded pupils

So what for us, educational researchers? All our work is personal, passionate and committed. Reflexivity is essential. We need to educate our leaders, including policy makers.

All our work is personal, passionate and committed.

Reflexivity is essential.

We need to educate our leaders, including policy makers.