Untested Accusation: Principals, Research Knowledge, and Policy Making in Schools

Biddle (psychology and sociology, U. of Missouri) and Saha (sociology, Australian National U.) discuss concepts needed to understand the use of education research knowledge, review claims about the use of that knowledge in education, and provide evidence about these issues from a study based on interviews with 120 school principals. They consider are how principals acquire, evaluate, and think about knowledge from research on education; and how that knowledge is used to influence policies and practices in their schools. Annotation c. Book News, Inc.,Portland, OR

BRUCE J. BIDDLE is Professor Emeritus of Psychology and of Sociology, the University of Missouri.

LAWRENCE J. SAHA is Reader in Sociology, the Australian National University.