ERIC Number: EJ953345
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011
Pages: 22
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-0272
EISSN: N/A
More than Just Story-Telling: Cultural-Historical Activity Theory as an Under-Utilized Methodology for Educational Change Research
Lee, Yew-Jin
Journal of Curriculum Studies, v43 n3 p403-424 2011
Sociocultural theory is increasingly popular as a paradigm for research in education. A recent member in this family of theories is introduced--cultural-historical activity theory (CHAT)--that shows much promise to complement and invigorate the field of educational change, a large, multi-faceted, and persistent problematic. In particular, CHAT-based research can address five areas where educational change research experiences weaknesses and shortcomings: (1) the failure to fully analyse the context; (2) a tendency towards reductionism rather than embracing complexity; (3) low sensitivity to the effects of power and politics; (4) lack of concern with emotions and identity; and (5) the rapidity at which new innovations are often introduced. These arguments are exemplified with a case study of a secondary school in Singapore that had devised a new inquiry-based science curriculum. The paper concludes with some implications for promoting CHAT-based research in educational change. (Contains 23 notes, 1 table, and 1 figure.)
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Educational Research, Models, Social Theories, Sociocultural Patterns, Cultural Context, History, Time Perspective, Educational Change, Content Analysis, Context Effect, Difficulty Level, Politics of Education, Power Structure, Psychological Patterns, Identification (Psychology), Educational Innovation, Secondary Schools, Inquiry, Science Curriculum, Case Studies
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Singapore
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A