8: What is Evidence-Based Practice, and (How) Does it Work in Education?

By the end of this chapter, readers should be able to:

• Explain what educational research is and how it relates to teaching, learning, and policy.

• Understand the development and critique of evidence-based education (EBE), especially in comparison to evidence-based medicine (EBM).

• Identify and reflect on the various ways teachers can use research in their professional practice (instrumental, symbolic, and conceptual).

• Consider the importance of teacher judgement and context in applying research, and explore broader, pragmatic definitions of research in education.