3APPLIED EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH IN SCOTLAND: SOME HISTORY AND CHALLENGES FOR THE FUTURE

In this invited piece, Sally Brown provides a personal perspective on where applied educational research in Scotland has come from over the last few decades and the challenges it currently faces. The paper draws on the direct involvement of the author in a number of major research projects, either as a researcher directly involved in data gathering and analysis, or as an adviser on important programmes of research. The paper outlines the expectations of research of policy-makers, practitioners, and of researchers themselves, before charting some attempts at collaboration among Scottish institutions in the production of educational research. The key issue of capacity building in order to produce high quality research is discussed in the context of the merger of the former teacher education colleges with universities. Some of the challenges to capacity building are identified, including institutional policy and practices and the commitment and enthusiasm of the current workforce. A major challenge is sustaining the collaborative practices which AERS has attempted to foster. In a globalised environment, the added value of Scottish higher education institutions working together seems to be self-evident. The paper asks us critically to examine this assumption