In Pursuit Of The Science Of Education:The History Of The Scientification Of Pedagogy In America (1860—2000)

As an important phenomenon in the history of pedagogy,the scientification of pedagogy,which was born with discipline of education,runs through the development of pedagogy.In 1860,the first American masterpiece with "Science of Education" in its name was published,signifying the prelude of the scientification of pedagogy in America.In the following century and a half,the American educational circles made unremitting efforts to promote pedagogy as a science.This thesis is dedicated to the development of the scientification of pedagogy,the research object,and focuses on the key historical figures and major historical events.By collection of relevant literature and references,it integrates the historical analysis and case study to fulfill the purpose of demonstrating the history of scientification of pedagogy in American,summarizing its basic route,probing the potential trend and learn the lesson and experience from it.Based on the evolutionary characteristics and development logic of the scientification of pedagogy in America,this thesis divides the development of it from1860 to 2000 into the following four stages: the Rise of the Scientification of Pedagogy in America(1860-1890),the Progress in Multi Aspects in Scientification of Pedagogy in America(1890-1910),the Quantitative Dominance in Scientification of Pedagogy in America(1910-1960),the Mixed Studies Trend in Scientification of Pedagogy in America(1960-2000).This thesis mainly investigates the scientification of pedagogy in America from two dimensions as theoretical discussion and practical exploration.The dimension of theoretical discussion mainly approaches the discussion and debate of American educational scholars in various historical stages on the existence of the science of education,the definition of the science of education,the theoretical basis of the science of education,the research methods of the science of education,and the relationship between the science of education and the practice of education.The dimension of practical exploration mainly investigates the educational research practices carried out by American educational scholars in various historical stages to promote the scientification of pedagogy,including deductive orientation,historical orientation,empirical orientation,experimental orientation,quantitative orientation,mixed orientation and so on.By reviewing and analyzing the history of the scientification of pedagogy in America,the following conclusions can be drawn: the history of the scientification of pedagogy in America is not only the history of deepening the understanding of science of education,but also the history of continuous exploration of educational research methods,and the history of unremitting pursuit of legitimacy of pedagogy.