1. Gothenburg seminar May 6th 2008 What is quality in educational research? Petter Aasen

2. Mission Reflections on quality in educational research based on a study of CES supported projects. Discuss critical findings. List a few tasks for rethinking enhancement of quality in educational research.

3. Background The reflections on quality in educational research are based on a survey of project applications supported by CES. A survey of a total of 182 approved project applications (2001 – 2005).

4. Findings The CES research program.  Multiple expectations, political and scientific tensions. The CES funded research projects.  The project applications are vague on central quality issues.

5. Discussion and implications The evaluation process.  Indicators of good research.  Quality in educational science. Realism Idealism Optimistic Pessimistic

6. Discussion and implications Policy of scientific and scholarly publication: 1. present new insight 2. in a form that allows the research findings to be verified and/or used in new research activity 3. in a language and with a distribution that makes the publication accessible for a relevant audience 4. in a publication channel with peer review.

7. "I would love to be able to get to the top of that tree," sighed the turkey, "but I haven't got the energy.” LESSON A turkey was chatting with a bull. "Well, why don't you nibble on some of my droppings?" replied the bull. They're packed with nutrients." The turkey pecked at a lump of dung and found that it actually gave him enough strength to reach the first branch of the tree. The next day, after eating more dung, he reached the second branch. Finally after a fortnight, there he was proudly perched at the top of the tree Soon he was spotted by a farmer Who promptly shot the turkey out of the tree.

8. LESSON 2 Moral of the story: Bullshit might get you to the top, but it won't keep you there. o