Basic Concepts and Discursive Practices of Educational Research in a Cross-Cultural Perspective

Author(s):

Gernot Herzer(presenting / submitting)

Conference:

ECER 2017

Network:

28. Sociologies of Education

Format:

Paper

Session Information

28 SES 10 B, Cross-Cultural Research and Educational Studies

Paper Session

Time:

2017-08-24

15:30-17:00

Room:

K4.20

Chair:

Gyöngyvér Pataki

Contribution

The epistemological profile of educational research as a scientific field is based on their specific theories, philosophies and historical, linguistic and cultural backgrounds. From a cross-cultural point of view, therefore, we find both differences and similarities regarding core terms and concepts, ideas and visions among the different European countries. Since decades the paradigm of empirical research gains in importance and meanwhile dominates the thematic field and its development. This fact could lead to a decreasing scholarly self-reflection as this empirical ‘paradigm’ focuses more on intensive data collection and exploitation than a critical and reflective thinking about a specific epistemological profile of educational research. Against this background we can assume that educational research loses sight of traditional reflection and analyses of basic concepts and discursive practices of educational research (terms, theories, philosophies, research cultures). However, without an appropriate and justified conceptual foundation educational research bears the risk of losing its particular scholarly and scientific character.

Method

This research investigates selected epistemological key concepts of educational research and their semantic field in a cross-cultural perspective under consideration of a comparative methodology as well as with a content and document analysis I analyze relevant disciplinary ideas, terms, concepts. I.e. it focuses upon different languages (English, German, Italian) and varying semantic fields educational core concepts are embedded in.

Expected Outcomes

As result I expect to find similar intercultural or cross-cultural differences and similarities regarding the core terms and concepts of the educational sciences and research regarding to three different cultural backgrounds. In this respect I refer to “Allgemeine Pädagogik” in Germany, “pedagogia generale” in Italy as well as “foundations of education” in the Anglo-Saxon world. The paper aims at contributing to more differentiated and reflective insights in the discursive and semantic pattern of core concepts and profiles of educational research and into intercultural and cross-cultural similarities and differences respectively. The paper aims to provide more fact bases confidence and self-reflection in order to support both a better understanding and thereby a better standing of educational research in the context of other disciplines.

References

Keiner, Edwin (2015): Pädagogik, Erziehungswissenschaft, Bildungswissenschaft, Empirische Bildungsforschung – Begriffe und funktionale Kontexte. In: Glaser, Edith & Keiner, Edwin (Hrsg): Unscharfe Grenzen – eine Disziplin im Dialog: Pädagogik, Erziehungswissenschaft, Bildungswissenschaft, Empirische Bildungsforschung. Bad Heilbrunn: Klinkhardt, S. 13-34 Knaupp, Monika; Schaufler, Sarah; Hofbauer, Susann & Keiner, Edwin (2014): Education Research and Educational Psychology in Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom – an Analysis of Scholarly Journals. In: Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Bildungswissenschaften/ Revue suisse des sciences de l’éducation/ Rivista svizzera di scienze dell’ educazione, 36, pp. 83-106. Keiner, Edwin & Hofbauer, Susann (2014): EERA and its European Conferences on Educational Research: A Patchwork of Research on European Educational Research. In: European Educational Research Journal, 4, pp. 504-518 Keiner, Edwin (2010) Disciplines of education. The value of disciplinary self-observation. In: Furlong, J. & Lawn, M. (eds.): Disciplines of education. Their Role in the Future of Education Research. London & New York: Routledge, pp. 159-172. Masschelein, Jan; Ricken, Norbert (2010): Bildung. In: Peterson, Penelope; Baker, Eva; McGaw, Barry (Eds): International Encyclopedia of Education. Volume 6. 3. ed. Oxford: Elsevier (2010) S. 127-132.

Author Information

Gernot Herzer (presenting / submitting)

Free University of Bozen-Bolzano

Faculty of Education

Brixen Berssanone (BZ)

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