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Research is very important in education as it is used to gain knowledge about a topic or issue in
education (Clark and Creswell, 2015). There are many facets to education to consider with good
research when you consider everything that education is and does for students, families,
communities, states, the real estate market, etc. While intuition is a strong and valid decision
making agent (Bolman and Deal, 2013), research should inform systematic changes in education
that seek to improve the educational process for students.
Education is not an exact science due to the human variables that will always be present. While
random assignment to the control group and experimental group is best at bringing about
accurate data (Slavin, 2003), even random assignments will still contain many human variables
that can skew the data and deem it inaccurate. Humans are not machines. Machines can be
exactly replicated time and again. Humans have attitudes, energy levels, abilities, gifts, and a
variety of other factors that can not be replicated so definitively.
Scientifically based and evidence based research has forced educators to seek solid data that has
been tested to determine effectiveness (Trybus, 2007). Seeking research data to inform decision
making in education has helped to utilize best practices and avoid the mistakes others have
already endured. When making educational decisions it is important to consider the strength of
the evidence provided by the research (Fleischman, et al, 2016) on the decision being made. It is
also very important to assess the context and location of the individual school or district to
determine whether someone else's research will produce the same results in the different context.
In short, what may work in the Midwest, may not be a useful practice in the Pacific Southwest. I
believe learning is the real goal of education, and research can help improve the teaching and
learning for students if it applied properly and when appropriate.

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Research is extremely important to education because it helps educators pave the way forward
through changing times. Although research is vital, I also think its important to take into account
that all students are individuals. Just because something has been researched and has shown
success through research, that doesnt necessarily mean that it will work every situation. I also
find research to be particularly interesting because it is possible for one person to use research to
support a specific theory, but another person can use other research methods to disprove that
same theory. Despite all of this, research is essential when it comes to keeping education
environments and practices up to date and relevant. The textbook uses the simple example of
using research to support the idea that students need physical activity to maintain healthy
weights and support appropriate development (Clark & Creswell, 2015, 1). This idea has been
incorporated into schools through gym classes as well as movement activities in the classroom.
Some teachers even use websites such as GoNoodle to keep kids moving in the classroom.
Educators understand that students, especially young ones, need to expel energy in the classroom
in order to be able to focus on the academic task at hand.
According to a few of the readings this week, the way research is being used in education is
shifting. The No Child Left Behind Act stressed the importance of using scientifically based
research (Fleischman, Scott, & Sargrad, 2016), while the Every Student Succeeds Act is now
moving toward evidence-based research (Trybus, 2007). The latter type expresses the importance
of educator experience in the classroom, but it doesnt necessarily have the scientific evidence
results to back it up (Trybus, 2007, 8). This shift in using research findings came about because
of frustration over agreement on the success of scientific based research as it was implemented
into the classroom. According to Fleischman, Scott, and Sargrad (2016), while researchers and

experts were saying something wasnt working, the creators of products and services were saying
they had scientifically based research proving that those same products and services worked. I
have faced this several times in my own classroom. I think many times we forget that there isnt
a one size fits all approach to education. As I stated previously, just because something works
in my classroom, doesnt mean that the teacher down the hall will have the same success rate
with it in his or her class because we have different variables involved.
Despite different findings in the research arena, using different tools and methods is a must for
all educators. Clark and Creswell (2015) explain that research helps educators increase our
knowledge about a topic or issue as well as offer results that can help them weigh various
perspectives (7). It is always important for educators to have multiple paths to success for
students. If one path isnt working, another must be traveled. Research can help open eyes to
those alternate paths.
In order to use the rating scale provided by Clark and Creswell (2015) I decided to perform a
search for information on suspension used as discipline in schools. I found a report that
suggested that higher levels of exclusionary discipline within schools over time generate
collateral damage, negatively affecting the academic achievement of nonsuspended students in
punitive contexts (Perry & Morris, 2014, 1067). I used the rating scale to determine that the
article was likely research as the report earned 3 points on the rating scale. I awarded the first
point because the study cites other research as well as focuses on results of its own research. It
also shows quantitative research through observation and qualitative research through graphs,
charts, and statistics. I awarded the second point because the report discusses methods and
measures, as well as provides analyses of the research findings. Finally, I awarded the third point
because the study had a results section that focused on providing statistics of the gathered

research and displayed those results with graphs and tables.

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Scientifically Based- Education as a science
Education is becoming a science. Although it is in its infancy because it is new to
being held to the rigors of empirical analysis, it is evolving into a science. What is different
about education and other forms of science is that unlike other fields, education cannot wait until
someone exposes an educational method to the scrutiny of the other sciences. Educators must
act. Unlike some other sciences injuries and death are not the consequence of failure. Despite
this it is important not to waste time and resources on efforts that have not proven effective.
What impact has scientifically based and/or evidenced based research had on state,
district, and school based decisions? Scientifically based research has had a profound effect
on the quality of education that can be provided. No Child Left Behind encouraged the use of
scientifically-based and research based initiatives. An unexpected negative consequence was
that it focused district attention on a small number of initiatives that may not be the most
appropriate for the context. Other methods and strategies were ignored because they simple had
not been studied with rigorous methods.
How can using research help improve the practice of teaching and learning? Using research
makes educational practice a deliberate rather than trial and error process; educators can
implement reforms and strategies that have evidence of their worth.
What are the factors that influence decision-making in education? Trybus (2007) describes
four factors that influence education - context, the organizational actors and circumstance, the
practitioners experience and judgement, stakeholder preference and values, and research and

evaluation evidence.
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Research plays a significant role in education. Since the passing of the No Child Left
Behind Act (NCLB) in 2002 schools have been required to use programs that are supported by
scientifically based research (SBR). The US Department of Education defines SBR as rigorous,
systematic, and objective procedures to obtain reliable and valid knowledge (Slavin, 2003).
While this simply sounds like good teaching practices, SBR has proven to be very challenging
and expensive to conduct in education (Trybus, 2007). Because of this, the Every Student
Succeeds Act, signed into law in December 2015, places an emphasis on evidence-based
research, encouraging state and district leaders to consider multiple tiers of evidence and
examine the strength of the evidence in making decisions (Fleischman, Scott, & Sargrad, 2016).
It is believed that evidence based research to support schools in need of improvement will be
more effective.
While education is not completely a science like medicine or agriculture, scientific
inquiry can be used to determine the effectiveness of programs. Schools can no longer use
untested innovations and when they do not work, replace them with more untested innovations
(Slavin, 2003). In fact, as discussed above, the acts that govern education will only allow the use
of scientifically based or evidenced based researched programs. This is not just another hoop to
jump through. Research can improve the practice of teaching and learning by identifying
programs or innovations that have shown to be successful when researched with a control group
and randomized.
Many factors influence decision-making in education. Scientifically based and/or
evidence based research clearly influences the programs that are adopted. Advertisements in

educational magazines, publishing companies and researchers also influence decision-making as

they as they sometimes cherry pick and bottom fish their results (Slavin, 2003). Obviously,
administrators and teachers play a huge role as are able to make decisions based on their
professional wisdom and the best empirical evidence (Trybus, 2007). Other stakeholders,
including the school board, parents, students, and the community, also play a vital role.

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Research is critical in the evaluation of programs in schools. It serves as the basis to
validate decisions made on school reforms to improve the outcomes of students. Margaret Trybus
(2007) stated that research aids decisions about beginning, modifying, continuing or expanding
programs that a district may already have in place or is thinking about adopting (p.7).
According to Slavin (2003), Research matters. Educators have long given lip service to research
as a guide to practice. But increasingly, they are being asked to justify their choices of programs
and practices using the findings of rigorous, experimental research (p.13).
Education is similar to science since it entails experiments and
extensive researches which are used to facilitate the decision making process in school districts.
Educational researchers conduct experiments, develop hypotheses and analyze the findings. This
is similar to how scientists conduct experiments, therefore, education is like science.
Scientifically based and evidence based research help to generate new instructional
models and develop the ones in existence. It also changes the education for students. Slavin
(2003) agreed that evidence based reform honors the best traditions of our profession and
promises to transform schooling for all students (p.16). Fleischman, Scott & Sargrad (2016)
also found the following:
The evidence based approach encourages state and district leaders to consider

multiple tiers of evidence and examine the strength of the evidence in making decisions. On the
other hand, scientifically based research sets a very specific, narrow standard for acceptable
evidence (p.2).
Research can be used to improve the practice of teaching and learning as it provides
evidence which aids in the implementation of rigorous curriculum in schools. It also helps
teachers to tailor lessons to meet the needs of the learner. There are many factors that influence
decision making in education. Firstly, an extensive research evidence is important to facilitate the
decision making process. The schools culture, organizational structure, key stakeholders and
data from instructional programs are the main factors that influence decision making in
education. The understanding of the factors that influence decision making is the key to sustain
organizational change so as to improve students outcomes.