onderwijsresearch

Onderwijsresearch, or education research, is a field of study that investigates teaching, learning processes, and the organization and outcomes of educational systems. It combines theoretical perspectives from disciplines such as psychology, sociology, pedagogy, economics, and data science to generate evidence on how education works and how it can be improved. The aim is to understand what influences learning, how different instructional strategies affect outcomes, and how policies and institutions shape educational experiences.

The scope includes all levels of education: early childhood through higher education and lifelong learning, as well as vocational and adult education. Topics include pedagogy and curriculum design, assessment and feedback, student engagement, equity and inclusion, teacher professional development, school leadership, governance, and the use of educational technology and learning analytics.

Methodology: onderwijsresearch uses quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method approaches; experimental and quasi-experimental designs to test interventions; longitudinal studies; observational studies; case studies; comparative and international research; and synthesis methods such as systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Data sources include standardized assessments, surveys, administrative data, classroom observations, interviews and focus groups, and digital traces from learning platforms.

In the Netherlands and Flanders, onderwijsresearch is conducted at universities, research institutes, and teacher training colleges, often with national and European funding. The work informs policy decisions, curriculum development, school practice, and professional development programs.

Ethics and quality: researchers emphasize transparency, data protection, informed consent, and responsible reporting. The field continually seeks to improve validity and reliability of findings and to bridge the gap between research and practice.