Evidence in education. We’re all in favour of evidence-based policy, of research, of using the data. Unfortunately, in the modern era of “post-fact” politics we instead often get policy-based evidence. In large and complex sets of data, which pretty much sums up education, a little bit of selective vision can ensure we can always find a fact or two which support our predetermined view.
I am sure I am guilty of this as much as anyone. Indeed, the selective use of data breeds ever greater selection in an arms race of blinkered vision, as opponents of a particular position must counter the bias they see with an opposing bias of their own.
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