Philosophical Issues in Education Policy Research

Policy research in education takes many forms. Individual journals can be dominated by some particular model of policy research, but the field as a whole is much more varied. The range of philosophical issues entangled with education policy research is also broad. Issues in ethics and political theory have application both to judgments about the value of policies and to decisions about how policy researchers should fit within the political process. This chapter introduces some of the philosophical issues in education policy research. It discusses philosophical issues within two branches of philosophy-epistemology and political theory. Organizational studies highlight claims about reasons for action, such as assertions about what those formulating a policy hoped it would accomplish and how others believe they were affected by the policy. Critical theorists could never be faulted for pandered to policymakers. They are intentionally oppositional. As a result, they are unlikely to shape policy by direct work with policymakers.