The role of research in educational policies

I have been pondering over the inconsistency of the educational programs in Nigeria until
I understood the role of research in education policies and programs.
The oxford English dictionary defines research as a study and investigation to discover
new facts about a subject (Oxford University Press, 1995). In the course of my study on
the subject of research and its impact on education policies and programs, I have been
able to come up with my own definition of research.
I see research as a deep search on a particular field in order to develop and formulate
theories that are based on empirical validation. Research is what we do when we have a
question or a problem we want to resolve. It happens as a result of dissatisfaction and a
yearning for something better than what is already been used. We may already think we
know the answers to some question or think the answer is obvious, but until a problem
has being subjected to vigorous scrutiny, then should we arrive at a conclusion. The first
priority in conducting a research is to formulate a question then figure out how to
answer it. It is imperative to consider how others have answered it and if one’s
proposal or findings fits in with what others have done (Mutch,2005).
Research impacts knowledge. A high quality research must be ''ethical, purposeful, well
designed, transparent, contextualized, credible, careful, imaginative and equitable''(
Naughton &Blatchford,2001, p9). The ethical research is beneficial to the participants.
The purposeful research has specific goals. The well designed research is compatible
with its topic. The transparent research gives room for others to follow the research trail
and assess the conclusion. The contextualized research reveals the background
influence of the research and its findings. The Credible research follows the rule of
research. The careful research stays within its limitations. The imaginative research
shows the creative skills of the researcher in doing a study on an original field. Lastly, the
Equitable research is an opinionated research (Naughton & Blatchford, 2001).
A good research procedure must be empirical and applicable in nature. It must be
according to the rules and the assumptions should not be based on false judgment (New
Zealand Tertiary College 2013) it must be relevant to what is required. Research should
be seen as a tool so that the researcher can control the research process (Naughton &
Blatchford, 2001).
A thorough research must be a help on answering various pertinent question. It must
have a logical root, helping to establish facts or principles.
Research is particularly important to early childhood education because it gives early
childhood practitioners and policy makers relevant information to use in its decision
making on behalf of young children.(Buysse, v and Wesley, P.W 2006). Research helps
early childhood practitioners to promote collaboration between them and the
researcher. It influences public policies on education (Fleishman, 2006). It enables early
childhood practitioners to read and think critically and apply relevant research to their
work with young children. Research causes early childhood practitioners to reconsider
their own position or policies in the light of the body of new research .( Fleishman,
2006)
Research helps policy makers to set early childhood education as a top priority. It helps
them develop suitable educational programs that will be of immense benefit to the
children.
Research is what has led to the constant changes in the educational policies in Nigeria.
Since the introduction of western education in 1842( Eya, 2000) Nigerian children have
experienced different programs like the universal primary education in 1955. Other
developments include the lunching of universal free primary education in 1976 and the
subsequent universal basic education in 1999.(Unagha, 2008) this revolving changes in
education policies are a product of deep research on what is most beneficial to the
children. In the past, children’s first contact with a learning center was at age six until
nursery system of education was introduced to government owned schools. This new
development is an outcome of early childhood research . The benefits of early childhood
research on children cannot be over emphasized.
In conclusion, research helps early childhood practitioners, policies makers and parents
to understand the effect of programs and associated experience on children’s learning
and development.






Reference List
Mutch, C.(2005). Doing educational research: A practitioner's guide to getting started.
Wellington:NZCER Press.
Fleishman, S. (2006). Research matters: Moving to evidence based professional practice.
Education Leadership.
Mac Naughton, G., Rolfes. & Siraj- Blatchford, (2001). Doing early childhood research:
International perspectives on theory and practice. Crows Nest, NSW: Allen & Unwin.
Buysse, V. & Wesley, P.W.(2006). Evidence based practice in the early childhood field.
Washington, DC: Zero to three.
New Zealand Tertiary College, Study guide, 2013.
Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford University Press,1995.
Unagha, Amanze O.(2000).Practical Approaches to the use of the Library.
Eya, Patrick(2001). The extent of primary school teachers' awareness and in Universal
basic educatiion.