Dialectical Research Methods in the Classical Marxist Tradition

Faith Agostinone-Wilson (Ed.D. in curriculum and instruction, Oklahoma State University) is an associate professor of education at Aurora University. She teaches qualitative research methods and curriculum theory at the doctoral level. Past works include Marxism and Education Beyond Identity: Sexuality and Schooling.

• Contents: Against Pragmatism – Research in the Service of Empire – What Makes Marxist Research «Marxist»? – Dialectical Empiricist Research – Dialectical Materialist Ethnographers – Theoretical Research in the Dialectical Tradition – People – Places – Things – Interpretation – Technology.

«In the last several decades, Marxist educational theorists and researchers have pinpointed particular deficiencies and shortcomings in mainstream educational and social research and its postmodern pretenders. However, until now, there has never been a systematic and sustained critique of capitalist realism, pragmatism, and postmodernism as limiting and constraining forces for educational researchers. Faith Agostinone-Wilson has produced such a book, and furthermore offers an alternative vision for education research that challenges the legitimacy, efficacy, ethical validity, and sustainability of capitalist society and capitalist forms of education and education research.» (Glenn Rikowski, School of Education, University of Northampton, United Kingdom)«This is an immensely powerful, very much needed, bombshell of a book...skilfully constructed, clearly argued, and so, so, necessary in its critique of research and research methodologies as they currently are. This is a lucid, penetrating and Marxist analysis and proposal for what research should be. I loved reading this book, its call for committed research, for dialectical materialist enquiry as research not to describe the world but to change it. The book is stunningly good, important and necessary. I was, and am, knocked out by it, in admiration. It more than fills what is currently a lamentable gap in research methodology. Superb!» (Dave Hill, Research Professor in Education, Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford and Cambridge, England; Chief Editor, The Journal for Critical Education Policy Studies)