July 6…The Roles of Theory in Educational Research
What light have the authors in
Anyon shed on the issue of how theory should operate in our empirical research
projects? Are there any new confusions that have sprung up in the wake of
reading this book?
I essentially underlined the entirety of the first two-thirds of Anyon's introduction. Anyon's multiple descriptions of theory as a mechanism for making even small, qualitative studies generalizable; for extracting the greatest possible meaning from the data; and for understanding any individual/institution/phenomenon as inseparable from the many social/economic/etc. forces influencing it, really spoke to me, to the extent that I immediately started looking through the graduate bulletin to find classes on theory. I'm in the research & eval track and am therefore primarily interested in developing familiarity and expertise in a variety of methods so I have a full arsenal with which to answer my research questions, but Anyon immediately sold me on how theory can and should inform quantitative as well as qualitative studies.
I am with Megan, in that I marked up almost the entire introduction. This text has been one that I needed at this point in my doctoral journey. While I have known that theory is important and informs research, I have been working through how to connect the two. Anyon makes it much clearer and offers insight into how that can possible and can add power to the work that will be done. As I continue to journey with theory, I am sure that this text will be a guide. At the same time, it almost puts me in a place of paralysis because of the vastness of the theoretical and the daunting process Anyon describes her students went through to even come close to realizing their theoretical lens. Finding a place to start can be the hardest part for me, but I know that the best thing is to just start. I would bet I am not alone in feeling overwhelmed with sifting through theory and trying to come to a place of “finding” my theories. In the end, this is a text that has been insightful and caused me to think and reflect on my own predispositions.
Kendra- I agree with both Megan and Bryan. I've really enjoyed the Anyon text. My bachelors degree is in sociology and many of my core values are shaped by considerations of social contexts and justice. Megan states, "Anyon's multiple descriptions of theory as a mechanism for making even small, qualitative studies generalizable; for extracting the greatest possible meaning from the data; and for understanding any individual/institution/phenomenon as inseparable from the many social/economic/etc. forces influencing it...".
I think back to classroom dialogue even as an undergraduate student and recall having this very exchange. The idea that any social phenomena would not consider the social factors that shape and influence it seems ridiculous. And yet, that seems to happen frequently with theory, particularly in historical context, but even in present day developments. My group was responsible for exploring Chapter 1 of the text. Immediately we fell into conversation around the implications of theory on policy and protocol implemented within demographics and groups who were not considered in the creation of said theory. I could say more, but I'll leave that for our presentation.
Anyon does a good job in describing how theory and application can be a bit too dangerous is one is pressed upon too much over another. Theory helps to guide discussion and ideas for further research. Whereas in applied settings, we can see exactly how these theories are like in the real world. Therefore in a sense, theory is a foundation for being able to see things in more lenses which allows us to have stronger empirical research projects because we can see things through multiple angles and sides. The authors have done an excellent job describing how theories like critical social theory. The ways that it allows the chapters like the one about video surveillance at Bronx High School and how students resist with poetry definitely made it a stronger story. In my setting, I am still trying to find my theoretical lens as I am dabbling and just starting. However, going through this book, I found some ideas about where to start, what stories to tell, and where that can lead to in the future.
Stephanie - After reading the introduction and some of the articles in the Anyon book, I am definitely looking at the role of theory in research differently. Anyon makes some compelling arguments for theory, qualitative research, and looking at broader aspects of research questions. (Example – “Trying to understand a school in East Los Angeles or South Bronx, New York, for example, without accounting for the context of poverty in which the schools exist is like trying to explain the flattened landscape after a hurricane without noting the velocity of the wind” (Anyon, p. 3) In the Tuck article, she used theory and research in ways that I had not thought of before. I had generally viewed the relationship between theory and research as linear; theory drove research or research determined the theory. However, this study, using the rhizome, was very different. Both the theory and the research were adaptable and changed based on needs that were shown by both the theory and the research. While it makes sense that theory would be changed as a result of research, since new theories are regularly created, I had not thought about theory development in this way. Additionally, both the Tuck and Nolan chapters described applications of theories in a more holistic way, rather than just looking for one problem/solution/application/etc.
I agree with the points Anyon makes about the necessity of situating educational research within theory, but I also think the content and perspectives explored in each chapter limit this argument. I haven't read all of the chapters, but after brief skims, it seems like all of the chapters are operating out of similar paradigms -- Anyon even mentions in the introduction that the book focuses "on uses that critical social theory can have for educational research and explanation" (p. 1). Particularly given how narrow some of the chapter topics were (student poetry as resistance, low-income latina parents & school choice), I think it's a bit of a stretch for the book to be titled "Theory and Educational Research." We get a particular brand of theory and a particular brand of educational research, which is fine, but I'm not sure that the types of theories that get used here are the most appropriate for other types of research.
The Anyon chapters have been helpful in articulating ways that theory is not only essential to research, but also relevant and impactful in everyday contexts. While there is argument that practitioners need what can be applied most immediately to their classrooms, Anyon’s introduction defends theory as a key component of social change, something that in today’s educational landscape, educators desperately need. Anyon explains that “[w]e choose theories because, in the end, we think they will produce the most explanation parsimoniously, because their adoption may lead to new and interesting data and explanations, and-importantly-because they may provide some purchase on progressive strategies for social change” (p. 8). I read Chapter 5, and was inspired by the way that Perez used high-level theory to empower working-class and poor parents in the community. Not only did Perez use theory used to explain social phenomena within that specific context, but she also used it to build capacity in a marginalized community. I am still not sure I feel confident in crafting “intersecting theoretical and empirical questions” (p. 13) for my own research. That was one idea within the introduction that I was not super comfortable with, but her encouragement that students eventually get there was reassuring.
Anyon's intro makes the case for theory-backed research. I do agree with Eric in that this particular approach is not appropriate for all research projects. I guess this is why we have so many different perspectives from which to choose. The Tuck chapter was a tad confusing until she detailed the research project conducted by CREDD. I believe that qualitative/mixed methods research is valuable at providing us with information that cannot be obtained by purely empirical research. I would be interested to know if Tuck's research had any impact on GED practices/policies in NYC schools.--Amy
I really enjoyed reading and re-reading Anyon. The "bottom-up" or "inverted spotlight" approach to theory she explores in "Chapter 2: Theorizing Student Poetry" spoke to me. She explains that this approach starts broad and narrows the applicable theory to the specific context. This appeals to the pragmatist leanings in me that considers the relationship between environment and person paramount, allowing the theory to unfold as the researcher observes the context, explores and tries out theories, and ultimately defines the theory that best explains and underlies the "heavy social topics" such as social resistance for social change.
I found it terrifying to see how theory can be used to "bully" the powerless, which is why Critical Theories are an important lens as well as tool to give voice to those whose voice is not listened to.
I like the 3 purposes (or uses) of social theory Anyon strives for in Chapter 2 as she attempts to find theory that complements and supports (not dictates) her participants' voice. These purposes of uses of theory are to (1) to facilitate conversation, 2) to listen attentively, 3) to theorize WITH her participants). In this way theory is receptive, changeable, and applicable to the present research.
In my opinion the book illuminated how theory really drives a research project. It appeared that authors used a particular theory in which to examine the data/findings. However, I am not sure that they are tied to that notion. I find that maybe as the data evolves, so can the theory used to examine it. I appreciate the possibility of using more than one theory, although usually related. Based upon the presentations thus far, theory was essential in understanding the implications of the findings. I agree when Anyon (pg 3) says that theory can point us to the larger political and social meanings of what occurs in educational institutions and systems. The implication is that theory is critical in really understanding data and making it relevant. Lastly, the book introduced to me to theory that I was not aware of and that I am interested in learning more about. In my chapter (1) in particular, Reproduction theory sparked great interest. I have always been fond of critical theories and the intent of critically examining social structures, policies, procedures, programming, etc. from a place of social justice. Going beyond the surface and understanding the social, political, and economic impact on oppressive practices. Again, although it may not be solution focused, it still highlights problems to be taken into consideration. Marsha
Theory is essential to any research project. York-Barr & Duke (2004) stated “Research grounded in theory is less likely to revisit what is already known and is more likely to further existing understandings and inform practice” (p. 291). Anyon’s authors would probably not just urge “grounding” research in theory, but “infusing” your research with theory. Great projects tend to be informed throughout by their theoretical framework. This is also true for great quantitative work. Feminist theory, for example, requires that quant researchers be reflective about their use of gender categories when collecting data. From the use of binary gender categories to the potential for reifying gender stereotypes through identifying male and female outcomes, quant data can easily ignore feminist theory. Quantitative researchers sometimes view theory as non-essential or something to be thought of during part of a project, such as the intro, and they end up becoming a kind of “atheoretical” research or what Foucault called “blind empiricism.” I would caution researchers who strive for atheoretical work. If you are not deliberate and reflective about how theory will inform your project, your project will receive a theoretical framework by default that may go unacknowledged. Lack of transparency is a major problem in research.
Anyon’s Chapter 4’s message about the use of theory really resonated with me. Dumas points out that his preferred theories draw from a number of different theoretical traditions. As he says “no one theory will ever do” (p. 104). One of my favorite theories from this past year of research is from the realm of political science. There is no reason that theory born from other disciplines cannot help explain phenomenon in other disciplines. My takeaways from Anyon and this class have been to keep an open mind and treat all theories as potential tools in your tool box (sorry for the metaphor, Becker!). You may not end up using all of them or feeling comfortable with all of them, but it is good to know what is available to you and what is being used for other projects that you may be reading about.
So I am a little late chiming in here, but I do have a bit of a clearer understanding of the dance between research and theory. Anyon states in the introduction, “a rigorous engagement between theory and research.. can come only with intense reflection and hard, empirical work, it emerges from the particularities of research projects themselves.” Further, theory helps to explain data. Having the examples of different kinds of theory applied in this book has helped to understand how theory helps to shape a project. Theory provides a way to examine information, a structure for analyzing the information.
In the Anyon book, the authors help shed light on theory in research by showing us what it looks like in practice. Often we learn the theories, but we don’t necessarily know what they look like in action. From the start, Anyon lets us know that the use of empirical data without theory to explain it is basically just numbers, just as theory without data is ineffective. In the introduction, Anyon give a great definition of theory and helps us to understand why it is so important to research. Throughout the book, the anecdote provide us with clear examples of theories such as critical social, race, and ethics.
Tom--I like the critical perspective; so the Anyon book was a good fit for me. I took away a few things regarding theory. Theory is foundational to a project. Theory helps a project find its place in the literature and gives a lens--both to the researcher and the consumer of research. I understood this already. My bigger takeaway from Anyon's book is that theory is a flexible concept--I can't just decide I am a constructivist and take that perspective on every project from this day forward. I will need to think deeply about the nature of what I want to study and consider the most appropriate theory. I will also need to reconsider the theory throughout the process. I may need to adjust/modify existing theories if they are insufficient. Theory offers an anchor, but shouldn't hold back discovery.
Evandra Anyon's book has been one of the most helpful resources since beginning this program. Anyon provides the reason behind using theory. As a novice researcher trying to operate within a theoretical framework to explore my interests has been difficult. After reading the introduction and chapter 1, I have a clearer understanding of the application of theory. Theory allows the researcher an opportunity to explain exactly what is being explained and the historical context and practice surrounding the phenomena
I essentially underlined the entirety of the first two-thirds of Anyon's introduction. Anyon's multiple descriptions of theory as a mechanism for making even small, qualitative studies generalizable; for extracting the greatest possible meaning from the data; and for understanding any individual/institution/phenomenon as inseparable from the many social/economic/etc. forces influencing it, really spoke to me, to the extent that I immediately started looking through the graduate bulletin to find classes on theory. I'm in the research & eval track and am therefore primarily interested in developing familiarity and expertise in a variety of methods so I have a full arsenal with which to answer my research questions, but Anyon immediately sold me on how theory can and should inform quantitative as well as qualitative studies.
ReplyDeleteI am with Megan, in that I marked up almost the entire introduction. This text has been one that I needed at this point in my doctoral journey. While I have known that theory is important and informs research, I have been working through how to connect the two. Anyon makes it much clearer and offers insight into how that can possible and can add power to the work that will be done. As I continue to journey with theory, I am sure that this text will be a guide. At the same time, it almost puts me in a place of paralysis because of the vastness of the theoretical and the daunting process Anyon describes her students went through to even come close to realizing their theoretical lens. Finding a place to start can be the hardest part for me, but I know that the best thing is to just start. I would bet I am not alone in feeling overwhelmed with sifting through theory and trying to come to a place of “finding” my theories. In the end, this is a text that has been insightful and caused me to think and reflect on my own predispositions.
ReplyDeleteKendra- I agree with both Megan and Bryan. I've really enjoyed the Anyon text. My bachelors degree is in sociology and many of my core values are shaped by considerations of social contexts and justice. Megan states, "Anyon's multiple descriptions of theory as a mechanism for making even small, qualitative studies generalizable; for extracting the greatest possible meaning from the data; and for understanding any individual/institution/phenomenon as inseparable from the many social/economic/etc. forces influencing it...".
ReplyDeleteI think back to classroom dialogue even as an undergraduate student and recall having this very exchange. The idea that any social phenomena would not consider the social factors that shape and influence it seems ridiculous. And yet, that seems to happen frequently with theory, particularly in historical context, but even in present day developments. My group was responsible for exploring Chapter 1 of the text. Immediately we fell into conversation around the implications of theory on policy and protocol implemented within demographics and groups who were not considered in the creation of said theory. I could say more, but I'll leave that for our presentation.
Anyon does a good job in describing how theory and application can be a bit too dangerous is one is pressed upon too much over another. Theory helps to guide discussion and ideas for further research. Whereas in applied settings, we can see exactly how these theories are like in the real world. Therefore in a sense, theory is a foundation for being able to see things in more lenses which allows us to have stronger empirical research projects because we can see things through multiple angles and sides. The authors have done an excellent job describing how theories like critical social theory. The ways that it allows the chapters like the one about video surveillance at Bronx High School and how students resist with poetry definitely made it a stronger story. In my setting, I am still trying to find my theoretical lens as I am dabbling and just starting. However, going through this book, I found some ideas about where to start, what stories to tell, and where that can lead to in the future.
ReplyDeleteStephanie - After reading the introduction and some of the articles in the Anyon book, I am definitely looking at the role of theory in research differently. Anyon makes some compelling arguments for theory, qualitative research, and looking at broader aspects of research questions. (Example – “Trying to understand a school in East Los Angeles or South Bronx, New York, for example, without accounting for the context of poverty in which the schools exist is like trying to explain the flattened landscape after a hurricane without noting the velocity of the wind” (Anyon, p. 3) In the Tuck article, she used theory and research in ways that I had not thought of before. I had generally viewed the relationship between theory and research as linear; theory drove research or research determined the theory. However, this study, using the rhizome, was very different. Both the theory and the research were adaptable and changed based on needs that were shown by both the theory and the research. While it makes sense that theory would be changed as a result of research, since new theories are regularly created, I had not thought about theory development in this way. Additionally, both the Tuck and Nolan chapters described applications of theories in a more holistic way, rather than just looking for one problem/solution/application/etc.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the points Anyon makes about the necessity of situating educational research within theory, but I also think the content and perspectives explored in each chapter limit this argument. I haven't read all of the chapters, but after brief skims, it seems like all of the chapters are operating out of similar paradigms -- Anyon even mentions in the introduction that the book focuses "on uses that critical social theory can have for educational research and explanation" (p. 1). Particularly given how narrow some of the chapter topics were (student poetry as resistance, low-income latina parents & school choice), I think it's a bit of a stretch for the book to be titled "Theory and Educational Research." We get a particular brand of theory and a particular brand of educational research, which is fine, but I'm not sure that the types of theories that get used here are the most appropriate for other types of research.
ReplyDeleteThe Anyon chapters have been helpful in articulating ways that theory is not only essential to research, but also relevant and impactful in everyday contexts. While there is argument that practitioners need what can be applied most immediately to their classrooms, Anyon’s introduction defends theory as a key component of social change, something that in today’s educational landscape, educators desperately need. Anyon explains that “[w]e choose theories because, in the end, we think they will produce the most explanation parsimoniously, because their adoption may lead to new and interesting data and explanations, and-importantly-because they may provide some purchase on progressive strategies for social change” (p. 8). I read Chapter 5, and was inspired by the way that Perez used high-level theory to empower working-class and poor parents in the community. Not only did Perez use theory used to explain social phenomena within that specific context, but she also used it to build capacity in a marginalized community. I am still not sure I feel confident in crafting “intersecting theoretical and empirical questions” (p. 13) for my own research. That was one idea within the introduction that I was not super comfortable with, but her encouragement that students eventually get there was reassuring.
ReplyDeleteAnyon's intro makes the case for theory-backed research. I do agree with Eric in that this particular approach is not appropriate for all research projects. I guess this is why we have so many different perspectives from which to choose. The Tuck chapter was a tad confusing until she detailed the research project conducted by CREDD. I believe that qualitative/mixed methods research is valuable at providing us with information that cannot be obtained by purely empirical research. I would be interested to know if Tuck's research had any impact on GED practices/policies in NYC schools.--Amy
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading and re-reading Anyon. The "bottom-up" or "inverted spotlight" approach to theory she explores in "Chapter 2: Theorizing Student Poetry" spoke to me. She explains that this approach starts broad and narrows the applicable theory to the specific context. This appeals to the pragmatist leanings in me that considers the relationship between environment and person paramount, allowing the theory to unfold as the researcher observes the context, explores and tries out theories, and ultimately defines the theory that best explains and underlies the "heavy social topics" such as social resistance for social change.
ReplyDeleteI found it terrifying to see how theory can be used to "bully" the powerless, which is why Critical Theories are an important lens as well as tool to give voice to those whose voice is not listened to.
I like the 3 purposes (or uses) of social theory Anyon strives for in Chapter 2 as she attempts to find theory that complements and supports (not dictates) her participants' voice. These purposes of uses of theory are to (1) to facilitate conversation, 2) to listen attentively, 3) to theorize WITH her participants). In this way theory is receptive, changeable, and applicable to the present research.
This is from Michelle
DeleteIn my opinion the book illuminated how theory really drives a research project. It appeared that authors used a particular theory in which to examine the data/findings. However, I am not sure that they are tied to that notion. I find that maybe as the data evolves, so can the theory used to examine it. I appreciate the possibility of using more than one theory, although usually related. Based upon the presentations thus far, theory was essential in understanding the implications of the findings. I agree when Anyon (pg 3) says that theory can point us to the larger political and social meanings of what occurs in educational institutions and systems. The implication is that theory is critical in really understanding data and making it relevant. Lastly, the book introduced to me to theory that I was not aware of and that I am interested in learning more about. In my chapter (1) in particular, Reproduction theory sparked great interest. I have always been fond of critical theories and the intent of critically examining social structures, policies, procedures, programming, etc. from a place of social justice. Going beyond the surface and understanding the social, political, and economic impact on oppressive practices. Again, although it may not be solution focused, it still highlights problems to be taken into consideration.
ReplyDeleteMarsha
Theory is essential to any research project. York-Barr & Duke (2004) stated “Research grounded in theory is less likely to revisit what is already known and is more likely to further existing understandings and inform practice” (p. 291). Anyon’s authors would probably not just urge “grounding” research in theory, but “infusing” your research with theory. Great projects tend to be informed throughout by their theoretical framework. This is also true for great quantitative work. Feminist theory, for example, requires that quant researchers be reflective about their use of gender categories when collecting data. From the use of binary gender categories to the potential for reifying gender stereotypes through identifying male and female outcomes, quant data can easily ignore feminist theory. Quantitative researchers sometimes view theory as non-essential or something to be thought of during part of a project, such as the intro, and they end up becoming a kind of “atheoretical” research or what Foucault called “blind empiricism.” I would caution researchers who strive for atheoretical work. If you are not deliberate and reflective about how theory will inform your project, your project will receive a theoretical framework by default that may go unacknowledged. Lack of transparency is a major problem in research.
ReplyDeleteAnyon’s Chapter 4’s message about the use of theory really resonated with me. Dumas points out that his preferred theories draw from a number of different theoretical traditions. As he says “no one theory will ever do” (p. 104). One of my favorite theories from this past year of research is from the realm of political science. There is no reason that theory born from other disciplines cannot help explain phenomenon in other disciplines. My takeaways from Anyon and this class have been to keep an open mind and treat all theories as potential tools in your tool box (sorry for the metaphor, Becker!). You may not end up using all of them or feeling comfortable with all of them, but it is good to know what is available to you and what is being used for other projects that you may be reading about.
So I am a little late chiming in here, but I do have a bit of a clearer understanding of the dance between research and theory. Anyon states in the introduction, “a rigorous engagement between theory and research.. can come only with intense reflection and hard, empirical work, it emerges from the particularities of research projects themselves.” Further, theory helps to explain data. Having the examples of different kinds of theory applied in this book has helped to understand how theory helps to shape a project. Theory provides a way to examine information, a structure for analyzing the information.
ReplyDeleteIn the Anyon book, the authors help shed light on theory in research by showing us what it looks like in practice. Often we learn the theories, but we don’t necessarily know what they look like in action. From the start, Anyon lets us know that the use of empirical data without theory to explain it is basically just numbers, just as theory without data is ineffective. In the introduction, Anyon give a great definition of theory and helps us to understand why it is so important to research. Throughout the book, the anecdote provide us with clear examples of theories such as critical social, race, and ethics.
ReplyDeleteTom--I like the critical perspective; so the Anyon book was a good fit for me. I took away a few things regarding theory. Theory is foundational to a project. Theory helps a project find its place in the literature and gives a lens--both to the researcher and the consumer of research. I understood this already. My bigger takeaway from Anyon's book is that theory is a flexible concept--I can't just decide I am a constructivist and take that perspective on every project from this day forward. I will need to think deeply about the nature of what I want to study and consider the most appropriate theory. I will also need to reconsider the theory throughout the process. I may need to adjust/modify existing theories if they are insufficient. Theory offers an anchor, but shouldn't hold back discovery.
ReplyDeleteEvandra
ReplyDeleteAnyon's book has been one of the most helpful resources since beginning this program. Anyon provides the reason behind using theory. As a novice researcher trying to operate within a theoretical framework to explore my interests has been difficult. After reading the introduction and chapter 1, I have a clearer understanding of the application of theory. Theory allows the researcher an opportunity to explain exactly what is being explained and the historical context and practice surrounding the phenomena