Actions for Increasing the Credibility of Educational Research

Abstract

The purpose of education research is to better understand educational phenomena to inform policy and improve practice. Forward progress within any field is based on the validity and credibility of that field’s research base - educators cannot make informed decisions based on anecdotal evidence, opaque research practices, or on studies that cannot be replicated. Educational research is plagued by the same challenges as a number of fields - publication bias, barriers to research access, and seminal theories that have failed to replicate. This symposium will share four research practices that can increase the replicability and credibility of educational science. Each will be presented in terms of benefits and challenges for the researcher, the journal editor, and the educational knowledge base in general.