Fostering quality education research: The role of the European Educational Research Association as a scientific association

Abstract

This paper considers the role and responsibilities of a scientific association in promoting and supporting high quality research, particularly with regard to providing guidance on research ethics. The paper reports on a survey-based study commissioned by the European Educational Research Association in 2015 which focused on educational researchers’ experiences with, and attitudes toward, the research ethics review scope and practice. The study provides insight into the role and activities of the European Educational Research Association in fostering high quality educational research. The analysis reveals the perception of academics that the European Educational Research Association might further high quality educational research for the benefit of education and society in the following ways: (i) leading the development of guidelines on ethical education research that are applicable across Europe whilst recognizing varied transnational contexts; (ii) promoting free, open dialogue and critical discussion on ethics in educational research; (iii) taking a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to ethics in educational research; (iv) informing the public about current developments in educational research; (v) developing practices of reviewing educational research in the context of research ethics; and (vi) promoting debate on ethics in the academic field of educational research. The paper concludes with some recommendations for the European Educational Research Association related to its role and responsibilities in fostering quality research.