Marsden, E. (2007) Can educational experiments both test a theory and inform practice? British Educational Research Journal, 33 (4). pp. 565-588. ISSN 0141-1926
Abstract
This article feeds into debate about the feasibility and usefulness of educational experiments by discussing methodological issues arising out of a study which sought causal links between teaching and learning of one aspect of French as a foreign language. The study involved two small-scale experiments which tested a hypothesis regarding the learning of second language grammar within a particular theoretical, and its related pedagogical, framework (Input Processing and Processing Instruction respectively), and has been described in full elsewhere. The current article uses that example to suggest some circumstances (contextual, methodological and theoretical) within which educational experiments may be able to both test a learning theory and inform educational practice. It is argued that despite the complexities and limits of small-scale educational experiments, an experimental design which combined a range of methods was able to generate new and useful (in a range of senses) substantive knowledge.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of York |
Academic Units: | The University of York > Faculty of Social Sciences (York) > Education (York) |
Depositing User: | York RAE Import |
Date Deposited: | 17 Jul 2009 15:12 |
Last Modified: | 17 Jul 2009 15:12 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01411920701434094 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Taylor & Francis |
Identification Number: | 10.1080/01411920701434094 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:5737 |