Doing Critical Research in Education

Kathryn Bell McKenzie is professor emerita of educational administration at Texas A&M University and professor emerita of advanced studies in education at California State University. Linda Skrla is a professor emerita of educational administration at Texas A&M University.

Contents

Preface  vii

Acknowledgments  x

Part I: Background of Critical Research in Education

1.  Isn't Research Just Research? An Overview of Systems of Human Inquiry  3
Terminology  4
Brief History of Social Science, Positivism, and Interpretivism  9
Critical Theory  11
Critical Theory and Education  14

2.  Research Considerations in Critical Research in Education  17
Assuring Quality  17
Ethical Considerations  19
Reflexivity and Positionality  21
Theoretical Framework  23
Conclusion  26

3.  Traditional Critical Theory in Education  27
Background of Critical Theory in Education  27
Notable Critical Theorists and Their Concepts  28
Research Components of Example Article  34
Conclusion  39

Part II: Intersectional and Identity-Based Critical Research in Education

4.  Critical Race Theory  43
The Emergence of Critical Race Theory  43
Notable Critical Race Theorists and Their Concepts  46
Defining Elements of Critical Race Theory  54
Conclusion  55

5.  Critical Race Theory in Education  56
Ladson-Billings and Tate: "Toward a Critical Race Theory of Education"  56
Notable Critical Race Theorists in Education and Their Concepts  61
Research Components of Example Article  67
Conclusion  71

6.  Critical Feminist Research in Education  72
Background of Critical Feminist Research  72
Notable Critical Feminist Theorists and Researchers  75
Research Components of Example Article  78
Conclusion  80

7.  LGBTQ Studies and Queer Theory in Education  81
Terminology  81
Brief History of the Gay Rights Movement  82
LGBTQ Studies, Queer Theory, and Queer Studies  84
Notable LGBTQ and Queer Theorists and Researchers  86
Research Components of Example Study  87
Conclusion  91

8.  Indigenous/Tribal Critical Research in Education  92
Background of Indigenous/Tribal Research  93
Terminology  95
Notable Indigenous/Tribal Theorists and Researchers  96
Research Components of Example Article  97
Conclusion  100

9.  Latinx Critical Research in Education  101
Background of Latinx Research  102
Notable Latinx Theorists and Researchers  103
Research Components of Example Article  105
Conclusion  109

10.  Critical Disability Studies in Education  110
Background of Critical Disability Studies  111
Terminology  112
Notable Critical Disabilities Studies Theorists and Researchers  114
Research Components of Example Article  116
Conclusion  119

Part III: Additional Types of Critical Research in Education

11.  Critical Policy Studies in Education  123
Background of Critical Policy Studies  123
Notable Critical Policy Theorists and Researchers  125
Research Components of Example Article  127
Conclusion  132

12.  Critical Quantitative Studies in Education  133
Background of Critical Quantitative Studies in Education  133
Notable Theorists and Researchers in Critical Quantitative Studies  136
Research Components of Example Article  137
Conclusion  143

13.  Critical Social Epidemiological Studies in Education  144
What Is the Difference Between Epidemiology and Social Epidemiology?  144
What Is Critical About Social Epidemiology?  146
Research Components of Example Article  146
Conclusion  151

14.  The Future of Critical Research in Education  152
Turbulent State Policy Environments  152
Effects of the Pandemic  153
Use of Big Data  155
Conclusion  157

Endnotes  159

References  160

Index  172

About the Authors  182