Skip to main content

ETHNOS_APP

Home • Search • Journals • List 0

The problem of reductionism in educational theory

Complexity, causality, values

Bibliographic Data

ID12928591
AuthorsTerry Wrigley (0000-0002-1536-243X, corresponding author)
Year2019
Volume11
Issue2
Pages145-162
Publication date2019-04-26
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePower and Education (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1757-7438 • E-ISSN: 1757-7438
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/1757743819845121
OpenAlexW2941063692
LanguageEN
Citations received14
References cited38

This article seeks to examine some of the problems in current policy, pedagogy and practice through the concept of reductionism. It examines various forms which this may take involving inappropriate scientific methodologies, a diminished sense of structure (or, conversely, agency), temporal confusion and teleological/ethical reductionism, drawing on examples from natural and social sciences as well as education. It draws on Critical Realist understandings of causality, stratification and emergence to ground the discussion ontologically and epistemologically. The article then builds on this theoretical foundation for a critical discussion of teaching and learning, poverty-related underachievement, school development, and evidence-based teaching

Agency (philosophy · Causality (physics · Causation · Criticism · Epistemology · Higher education · Philosophy of education · Reductionism · Sociology · Teleology · Educational Theory and Curriculum Studies · Global Educational Policies and Reforms · Philosophy · Political theory and Gramsci

  • Closing the loop by expanding the scope

    Open Access•Lesley Johnson, Deborah Devis et al.•Frontiers in Education•2024

  • Unearthing imaginaries

    Open Access•Martin Rissler, Elias Flening et al.•Learning Media and Technology•2026

  • “Connect the circle” systems thinking tool for postgraduate sustainability education

    Open Access•Dzmitry Brychkov, Peter C McKeown et al.•International Journal of…•2024

  • ‘It is the easiest thing to do’

    Open Access•Yuchen Wang•Teaching in Higher Education•2024

  • Evaluation of False, Reductionist Part-Whole Relationships in Biochemistry and Its Effect on Health Science Students’ Chemistry-Based Health Literacy

    Open Access•Jonathan M Barcelo, Nona Marlene B Ferido•Science & Education•2025

  • Sustainable learning ecosystems in later life

    Natalia Balyasnikova, Balyasnikova Natalia et al.•Educational Gerontology•2026

  • Connecting the dots

    Open Access•Emma P Bullock, Allison L Roxburgh et al.•Journal of Computer Assisted…•2021

  • ‘We all bleed the same’

    Derrick Kranke, Julie De King et al.•Social Work Education•2023

  • A cautionary note on aggregation in educational psychology and beyond

    Open Access•Georg Krammer•Theory & Psychology•2023

  • The Epistemology of Ta'dib in Islamic Civilizational Discourse

    Open Access•Husni Husni, Husni et al.•Journal of Al-Tamaddun•2024

  • What is missing in policy discourses about school exclusions

    Open Access•Barry Down, Anna Sullivan et al.•Critical Studies in Education•2024

  • Covid-19’s impact on learning processes in Australian university students

    Open Access•Darrell Eckley, Andrew Allen et al.•Social Psychology of Education•2022

  • The foundations and applications of teaching environmental problems

    Open Access•Thijs Loonstra, C Tassone et al.•Environmental Education Research•2024

  • Emotional Impact of State Takeovers

    Open Access•Madelyn G Yoo, Madelyn Yoo et al.•Education and Urban Society•2026

  • Making Social Science Matter

    Open Access•Bent Flyvbjerg, Steven Sampson•Making Social Science Matter•2001

  • Understanding Organizational Culture

    Mats Alvesson•Understanding Organizational…•2002

  • The Precariat

    Open Access•Guy Standing•The Precariat•2011

  • Evidence-based Policy

    Ray Pawson•Evidence-based Policy•2006

  • Leaders and Leadership in Education

    Helen Gunter•Leaders and Leadership in Education•2001

  • The Precariat

    Guy Standing•The Precariat•2011

  • Datafied at four

    Alice Bradbury•Learning Media and Technology•2019

  • The emerging British underclass

    Charles A Murray•The emerging British underclass•1990

  • Outline of a Theory of Practice

    Open Access•Pierre Bourdieu, Richard Nice•On Violence•2007

  • The Site of the Social

    Theodore R Schatzki•The Site of the Social•2002

  • Realist Social Theory

    Open Access•Melanie S Archer, Margaret Scotford Archer•Realist Social Theory•1995

  • Realism and Social Science

    Andrew Sayer•Realism and Social Science•2000

  • Reassembling the Social

    Bruno Latour•REASSEMBLING THE SOCIAL: AN…•2005

  • The Possibility of Naturalism

    Roy Bhaskar•Possibility of Naturalism•2013

  • Methodological Individualism Reconsidered

    Steven Luke, Steven Lukes•British Journal of Sociology•1968

  • The Enigma of Capital

    Open Access•David Harvey•Contemporary Sociology A Journal…•2011

  • The (absent) politics of neo-liberal education policy

    M Clarke•Critical Studies in Education•2012

  • Reproduction in Education, Society and Culture

    Tricia Broadfoot•Comparative Education•1978

  • The misdirection of public policy

    Adrian Simpson•Journal of Education Policy•2017

  • School effectiveness’

    Open Access•Terry Wrigley•British Educational Research…•2004

  • Princesses are bigger than elephants

    Open Access•Adrian Simpson•British Educational Research…•2018

  • Why ‘What Works’ Still Won’t Work

    Open Access•Gert Biesta, Gert J J Biesta•Studies in Philosophy and Education•2010

  • Against Reductionism

    M W Apple, Ronald R Price et al.•History of Education Quarterly•1984

  • An Interview with Gene V. Glass

    Open Access•Daniel H Robinson•Educational Researcher•2004

  • Complexity and Reductionism in Educational Philosophy—John Dewey’s Critical Approach in ‘Democracy and Education’ Reconsidered

    Kersten Reich, J Garrison et al.•Educational Philosophy and Theory•2016

  • Education and the Middle Classes

    John Beck•British Journal of Educational…•2007

  • The power of ‘evidence

    Open Access•Terry Wrigley•British Educational Research…•2018

  • Reclaiming reality—a critical introduction to contemporary philosophy

    Mark Lemon, M C Lemon•History of European Ideas•1992

  • Brief History of Neoliberalism

    Desley J Harvey, David Harvey et al.•BRIEF HISTORY OF NEOLIBERALISM.•2005

  • Practice Theory

    Jane Wilkinson, Stephen Kemmi et al.•Educational Philosophy and Theory•2014

  • Rethinking school effectiveness and improvement

    Open Access•Terry Wrigley•Discourse Studies in the Cultural…•2013

Unique citing works14
Citations per year2,8
Citation span2021 - 2026 (6)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 14

Tools

Open DOISci-Hub
Ethnos_APP • Open Source Project • MIT License • Frontend v2.0.0 • Privacy and Cookies • API Documentation: api.ethnos.app/docs • API Source Code: GitHub • DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17049435 • Frontend Source Code: GitHub • DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17050053 • cruz.rio.br • Expectantes Misericordiae