Empirical Research or Speculative Research?——An Exploration of the Two Approaches in Educational Research
Educational research has become part of modern scientific research over a hundred years'development.However,the debate between empirical and speculative approaches in educational research never reaches a consensus in China.This study traced the history of both empirical and speculative approaches to deeply investigate their possible relationships.The results indicated that the current trend of educational research shifted from"emphasis of one approach"to the"interdependence of both approaches".For one thing,the speculative approach provided theoretical framework and possible interpretations of research findings,and for another,the empirical approach supported scientific arguments by providing solid evidence.Educational research should balance the ratio of speculative and empirical approaches in order to avoid extremes of purely empirical or speculative approach.The current study analyzed the case of"systematic review"as another approach of educational research and how it could fit into the frame of interdependence of empirical and speculative approaches.Through the establishment of the above concepts in educational research,this study contributes to solving the current debate in research approaches in education,and thus providing suggestions in improving the quality of educational research in China.
educational researchempirical researchspeculative research
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