Cumhuriyet Uluslararası Eğitim Dergisi, cilt.7, 2018 (Hakemli Dergi)
The
researchers of educational faculties conduct educational research, pure
scientific research or discipline-based educational research as to their
interest. All of these researches are important and contribute to the
improvement of these faculties. However, as these faculties take the name of
education, there are some opinions that show educational and discipline-based
educational research should be more focused on. On the other hand, pure scientific
researchers believe that the kernel of science is pure scientific research.
Based on these arguments, this study tried to give voice to researchers of
educational faculties. Thus, the aim of this study is to identify researchers’
perceptions of scientific research (SR), pure scientific research (PSR),
educational research (ER) and discipline-based educational research (DBER). To
achieve this goal, phenomenology was carried out. The sample was formed through
maximum variation sampling. The participants of the study consisted of 10
researchers working at Atatürk University Kâzım Karabekir Education Faculty.
The data obtained through semi-structured interviews were analyzed through
content analysis. The findings showed that the researchers described the SR as
a systematic process of gathering and analyzing data; PSR as theoretical
research which tried to understand the nature of a discipline; ER as an applied
research related to education and training; and DBER as a combination of ER and
PSR. Moreover, it was seen that the researchers believed that DBER did not
contribute to the educational system of country due to some reasons such as
policy and lack of DBER researchers.