tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25541994.post7317343701505485058..comments2024-03-26T14:44:37.985-04:00Comments on D-Ed Reckoning: Too much opinion, too little theoryKDeRosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06853211164976890091noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25541994.post-30807435940802422562006-12-09T22:24:00.000-05:002006-12-09T22:24:00.000-05:00Nice piece.
As a social scientist myself, I have ...Nice piece.<br /><br />As a social scientist myself, I have become increasingly skeptical of the possibility of applying scientific method to social phenomena. The problem is that there are too many variables. Scientific research requires that we isolate variables in order not only to posit theories but to test them. But this is only possible when the "n" is very small. So our results for "small n" studies are always open to challenge. And the possibility of doing "large n" studies is virtually nil, due to the huge expense. Plus there are "human subjects" regulations that further complicate the issue.<br /><br />So my hope for finding a scientific way out of the philosophical debates is also nil. Social science is nice--in theory--but it has rarely led us to any sort of a revolution in our understanding of human society. <br /><br />So let the debates continue!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25541994.post-30793032838903293672006-12-07T09:16:00.000-05:002006-12-07T09:16:00.000-05:00"I was then further informed that "they" say the n..."I was then further informed that "they" say the new methods are better. I didn't ask who "they" are, but I'm sure "they" have some pretty good "theories"."<br /><br /><a href="http://rightwingnation.com/index.php/2006/12/04/2544/">Like I said</a>, when you hear a PhD student say in a seminar, "Everybody knows that . . ." you know there's a serious problem.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25541994.post-39179632147216541542006-12-06T22:08:00.000-05:002006-12-06T22:08:00.000-05:00On top of not knowing why or whether teaching meth...On top of not knowing why or whether teaching methods work, there is the problem of defining what the goal is. It doesn't matter whether the methods work or not if they are going in the wrong direction.<br /><br />I don't mind that they have their own opinions or assumptions, but I do mind that they feel perfectly willing to force them on everyone else.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25541994.post-21984720173319443792006-12-06T16:54:00.000-05:002006-12-06T16:54:00.000-05:00Excellent piece (said the mid-career changer just ...Excellent piece (said the mid-career changer just completing a master's degree in education that is so laughable he hesitates to call it a degree).<br /><br />At my child's school, where I discovered that they long ago gave up weekly spelling lists, quizzes and the like. When informed that the new way (read: lack of emphasis on spelling) was better, I asked how it was determined that the old way no longer works. I was then further informed that "they" say the new methods are better. I didn't ask who "they" are, but I'm sure "they" have some pretty good "theories".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25541994.post-78911426198305126322006-12-06T15:15:00.000-05:002006-12-06T15:15:00.000-05:00Have a trackback.<a href="http://rightwingnation.com/index.php/2006/12/06/2557/">Have a trackback</a>.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com