Methods and Practice in Comparative Education Research: Models, Ontologies and Epistemologies

Abstract

<p>This handbook is addressed to educational researchers who are interested in the study of education theory and practice in countries around the world. This introductory chapter is an overview of the handbook chapters and a reflection on the status of research in comparative education in 2018. The editors have had a chance to review each chapter and to discuss the implications of their content for informing future research activities in comparative education. Here, the editors of the volume review the contributions of all authors and integrate their remarks with the other contributions to the field of comparative education. One premise of this review is that the different methods of research that are found in comparative education were established through lengthy development and are supported by networks of scholars who share common experiences and technical knowledge. Thereby, each of these approaches to understanding educational processes across cultures should be acknowledged as legitimate means of investigation and given an opportunity for explanation and debate. The hope of the handbook editors is that, by bringing different approaches to comparative education research together in one resource volume, a better understanding of the goals, methods, and values of all researchers may be gained.<br/> The chapters give evidence that the field of comparative education research is a lively enterprise that is driven by a desire to improve educational practices and equity of access to educational opportunities in all corners of the world. Altogether, the chapters contain an overview of comparative educational research methods, ideologies, and policy uses. The subject matter includes views on the status of the field itself; reviews and analyses of instruction and learning practices across different cultures; commentary on social justice issues such as gender and social-economic equity; and the discussion of the consequences of the dramatic growth in number of large-scale comparative surveys of education. Other topics include cross-national studies of pre-school practices, the content of primary and secondary curriculum, experiences in after-school learning, uses of technology, preparation for science and technology careers, the development of student attitudes, and the preparation of teachers.</p>