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Consistency, Understanding and Truth in Educational Research
Author(s) -
DAVIS ANDREW
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of philosophy of education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.501
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1467-9752
pISSN - 0309-8249
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-9752.2006.00518.x
Subject(s) - consistency (knowledge bases) , psychology , epistemology , educational research , philosophy of education , sociology , social psychology , philosophy , pedagogy , computer science , higher education , political science , artificial intelligence , law
What do Elliot Eisner's discussions of objectivity mean for the strength of the link between consistency and truth in educational research? Following his lead, I pursue this question by comparing aspects of qualitative educational research with appraising the arts. I argue that some departures from the highest levels of consistency in assessing the arts are compatible with truth and objectivity, and that this is at least suggestive for how consistency in qualitative educational research should be viewed. In the final part of the paper I look at some problems inherent in comparing the value of works of art, and consider whether similar issues arise when we attempt to grade different kinds of educational research.