Scientifically Based Research as Called for in the No Child Left Behind Act
Note: Hurricane Wilma knocked out our power on October 24. We’re finally back.
Congress is to be congratulated for specifying in about 100 places in the No Child Left Behind Act that educators must do and use “scientifically based research.”
What Is Scientifically Based Research?
All three words indicate that it is research using the scientific method.
First - the word scientifically (or science)
Practitioners, including teams, doing scientifically based research must utilize the accumulated body of reliable knowledge, but considering the usual skepticism afforded any knowledge by the procedural principles of the scientific method.
Since science is fundamentally method, its method must be used - the scientific method.
Second - the word based
The foundation must be on science, which is fundamentally method - the scientific method.
Third - the word research
Research in the strict and correct meaning of the word means research following the scientific method.
Conclusion. The total meaning of the phrase “scientifically based research” means and emphasizes research following the scientific method.
Unfortunately, because of the misunderstandings and false claims about the scientific method, our top educators don’t know the correct interpretation of this phrase. Bloggers can help by calling their attention to the accurate interpretation of scientifically based research.
