To Know Is Not Enough: Putting Theory to Work in Qualitative Research

Session Submission Type: Invited Session

Abstract

In a paper presented at the American Educational Research Association in April 2004, Patti Lather stated, “the turn that matters in this moment of the ‘post’ is away from abstract philosophizing and toward concrete efforts to put the theory to work.” That then is the primary objective of this session–to illustrate or to demonstrate how this group of researchers are “putting to work” philosophical ideas a and various theories in the context of qualitative research that serves the public good. Further, this session extends the all by researchers in the social sciences (e.g., Lather, Peters, Spivak) that in order for theories to be relevant, working examples of the applications of such theory in educational research must be presented as exemplars. The presenters in this session will not only discuss how they are “putting theory to work,” but will discuss how they are doing so to “advance knowledge about education...and to promote the use of research to improve education and serve the `public good” in the context of anti‐racist, anti‐homophobic, and anti‐sexist aims in both P‐12 and higher education.

Sub Unit

• Presidential Session

Cosponsor

• Division D - Measurement and Research Methodologies / Division D - Measurement and Research Methodology

Chair

• Lisa A. Mazzei, University of Oregon

Participants

• Alecia Youngblood Jackson, Appalachian State University

• Patti A. Lather, The Ohio State University

• Lisa A. Mazzei, University of Oregon

• Jerry L. Rosiek, University of Oregon

• Harry Torrance, Manchester Metropolitan University

• Cynthia A. Tyson, The Ohio State University - Columbus