The Theory Question in Research Capacity Building in Education: Towards an Agenda for Research and Practice

Citation

Biesta GJJ, Allan J & Edwards R (2011) The Theory Question in Research Capacity Building in Education: Towards an Agenda for Research and Practice. British Journal of Educational Studies, 59 (3), pp. 225-239. https://doi.org/10.1080/00071005.2011.599793

Abstract
The question of capacity building in education has predominantly been approached with regard to the methods and methodologies of educational research. Far less attention has been given to capacity building in relation to theory. In many ways the latter is as pressing an issue as the former, given that good research depends on a combination of high quality techniques and high quality theorising. The ability to capitalise on capacity building in relation to methods and methodologies may therefore well be restricted by a lack of attention to theory. In this paper we make a case for capacity building with regard to theory, explore the different roles of theory in educational research, and provide an outline of an agenda for capacity building with regard to theory.

Keywords
educational research; capacity building; theory; educational theory; disciplines; purposes of research; purposes of theory

Journal
British Journal of Educational Studies: Volume 59, Issue 3

People

Professor Richard Edwards

Emeritus Professor, Education