Table of Contents

Introduction by Annette Lareau and Pamela Barnhouse Walters

Part I: The Call for Rigor (A Set of Original Documents)

The Definition of "Scientifically Based Research" in the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001

The Definitions of Scientific Validity in the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002

Mission and Functions of the Institute of Education Sciences, as Detailed in Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002

The What Works Clearinghouse Standards for Evaluating Existing Research Studies of Education

Background Statement in the Institute of Education Sciences’ 2006 Call for Proposals for Postdoctoral Research Training Grants

Selections from Request for Proposals for Predoctoral Interdisciplinary Research Training Programs in the Education Sciences, Issued by the Institute of Education Sciences in 2004

Summary of Institute of Education Sciences’ Position on Appropriate Research Methods in Education, April 22, 2003

Carl F. Kaestle, "The Awful Reputation of Education Research." Educational Researcher, vol. 22, n. 1, 1993, pp. 23+26-31.

Margaret Eisenhart and Lisa Towne, "Contestation and Change in National Policy on ‘Scientifically Based’ Education Research." Educational Researcher, vol. 32, n. 7, 2003, pp. 31-38.

A selection from Scientific Research in Education.

The AERA’s "Standards for Reporting on Empirical Social Science Research in AERA Publications." Available at http://www.aera.net/uploadedFiles/Opportunities/StandardsforReportingEmpiricalSocialScience_PDF.pdf.

Grover J. (Russ) Whitehurt, "New Wine, New Bottles." Address at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association. Available at http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/ies.pdf.

Part II: The Shifting Political Nature of Knowledge

The Education Sciences as a Political Reform Movement by Pamela Barnhouse Walters

From Gardner’s Education Task Force to the Institute of Education Sciences: Improving the Quality of Federal Education Research, Statistics, and Development by Maris Vinovskis

Part III: Knowing Quality When We See It

Assessing Quality in Educational Journals by Barbara Schneider

The Preparation of Researchers and the Quality of Education Research by Larry V. Hedges and Jennifer Hanis

The Illusion of Rigor by Annette Lareau

Part IV: Reflections

Moments of Catharsis and Synthesis: Lessons Learned From the Quality Debates by Sheri Ranis

A Quixotic Quest? Philosophical Issues in Assessing the Quality of Education Research by Denis C. Phillips