Readers and Authors of Educational Research: A Study of Research Output on K-12 Education Policy. (May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Phillips, Margaret
• Is Part Of: SAGE Open. Volume 9:Number 2(2019:Apr./Jun.)
• Publication Date: 2019-05
• Subjects: educational research -- library research -- bibliographic analysis -- open access; Social sciences -- Periodicals; 300.5
• DOI: 10.1177/2158244019853901
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2158-2440

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to characterize a representative body of research to demonstrate the advantage of disseminating educational research in ways that reach the broadest audience. Using the Education Resources Information Center (ERIC) database, I compiled a set of research findings on a number of broad educational themes. Focusing on journal articles and reports, I examined the public availability of the publications, publication quality as determined by peer review, and authorship. In all, 65% of the journal articles were behind a paywall, and 35% were available either as PDFs or freely available on the publisher website; 61% of the peer-reviewed literature was locked behind a paywall. This study also examined a subset of reports—research studies not published in journals but issued by organizations, think tanks, or policy institutes; 27% of the reports were authored by institutions identified with a neoliberal or free-market ideology.