American Educational Research Association

Last updated

American Educational Research Association
Formation1916;108 years ago (1916)
Headquarters 1430 K Street
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Membership
25000 members
2023-24 President
Tyrone Howard [1]
Executive Director
Felice J. Levine
Website www.aera.net

The American Educational Research Association (AERA, pronounced "A-E-R-A") is a professional organization representing education researchers in the United States and around the world. [2] AERA's mission is to advance knowledge about education and promote the use of research in educational practice. [2]

Contents

Organization and membership

AERA is led by an Executive Director (Felice J. Levine) and a President (Tyrone Howard from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2023–24). [1] AERA's governance structure includes the Council, Executive Board, standing committees, and award committees. [3] Temporary committees, task forces, and working groups are initiated for other specific needs.

AERA has 25,000 members, including scientists, teachers, students, administrators, state and local agencies, counselors, and evaluators. [4] The range of disciplines represented by the membership includes education, psychology, statistics, sociology, history, economics, philosophy, anthropology, and political science. There are 12 divisions covering different research areas in education.

Early history

AERA (known originally as National Association of Directors of Educational Research) was founded in 1916 as an interest group within the National Education Association Department of Superintendence. The association's eight founders – Burdette R. Buckingham, Albert Shiels, Leonard P. Ayres, Frank W. Ballou, Stuart A. Courtis, Edwin Hebden, George Melcher, and Joseph P. O'Hern – were all directors of education research in various parts of the United States. They met at the 1915 NEA Department of Superintendence annual meeting and came to the idea of starting an organization to advance education research. Their constitution was approved the following year.

Early topics of interest for early AERA included research bureau operations, measurement techniques, and particular school situations. Active membership in the early association was reserved for research bureau directors and their assistants. The association's early years revolved around the annual convention. Between meetings, the association published an internal quarterly newsletter, the Educational Research Bulletin.

By the end of the World War I in 1918, the association had 36 active members and four honorary members and was affecting public policy, visible in the school districts that started to change student coursework and education practices as a result of standardized tests. Mental testing developments, primarily psychometrics as a result of the First World War, new subfields of education, and the growth of education research at the post-secondary level challenged the association to widen its mission. The association opened its membership to include anyone who could demonstrate their competence as a researcher indicated by their published or unpublished work. In 1922, members voted to adopt a name that represented their goal of representing the interests of all American education researchers – Educational Research Association of America. Over the years that followed, membership saw a dramatic increase, particularly among university personal, which grew from 48% to 69% between the years 1923 and 1927.

The association's original publication, the Journal of Educational Research, began in 1919.

The ability of education research to provide guidance for education practitioners was a struggle throughout the association's beginnings, with only ambiguous known relationships between testing and learning outcomes. The association recognized the need to establish theoretical foundations for the field of education research. In 1928, the association changed its name to the American Educational Research Association, as it is currently known.

During the Great Depression, the association's public school affiliates struggled with tight finances and uncertain employment, but during the same time, university education researchers dominated the field and emerged as a unique social entity. Also during this time, AERA officials grew their relationships with like-minded associations, and a new journal, the Review of Educational Research , began as a reference work, summarizing recent studies. While early topics in Review of Educational Research focused primarily on education psychology and administration, the publication broadened its coverage in the mid-1930s in response to diversification in the field.

The role of education research in the progressive education movement was a source of contention between education researchers, some of whom felt that it should play an active role in policy issues, and others who felt that it should be used primarily for professional discourse. As the field continued to advance, much of the knowledge did not translate into practice, an issue that is still widely debated today. These divisions in the field made it difficult for education researchers to speak with one voice. Just prior to World War II, Review of Educational Research made the case that because science could not speak to goals and choices, education research should contribute as one source of many to shaping American education. [5]

Publications

AERA publishes books and reports, along with sponsoring seven peer-reviewed journals: [6] [7]

Events

AERA's Annual Meeting held every spring is the largest gathering of scholars in the education research field with approximately 14,000 participants. The five-day conference is a showcase of research studies across education disciplines at all levels. The average number of attendees from 2007–2017 was 14,967. [8]

AERA also hosts the annual Brown Lecture in Education Research, which highlights the role of research in advancing equality in education. The first Brown Lecture was held in 2004 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education decision.

Education research and policy

AERA is expanding the availability of its resources by participating in the open access movement. AERA currently offers Educational Researcher (journal) open access, as well as an Online Paper Repository and i-Presentation Gallery containing presentations from the 2010 Annual Meeting forward. An open access, peer-reviewed journal – AERA Open – launched in 2014.

On the policy front, AERA is actively involved in revisions to the common rule. Executive Director Felice J. Levine served on the National Research Council committee charged with reviewing proposed regulations. The committee published its report in early 2014. [9]

AERA helps lead an ongoing initiative as part of the social science research community to increase federal funding for education research, particularly research in the social and behavioral sciences.

AERA selects and appoints scholars as AERA Fellows in a process based on peer nominations. This is an effort to bring together seasoned researchers who are recognized for their contributions and contribute to the advancement of educational research.

In addition, AERA was active in the reauthorization of the Institute of Education Sciences bill – Strengthening Education through Research Act – which was advanced by the United States House Committee on Education and the Workforce in April 2014. [10]

Education research initiatives

AERA is involved in several education research initiatives, ranging from specific advocacy topics to supporting projects that serve the larger community. AERA supports the Education Research Conferences Program, which awards grants for conferences on ground-breaking topics. AERA's Education Research Service Projects is designed to encourage researchers to offer their expertise to organizations and groups who may have a need but not the funds to engage their assistance.

One topic area that AERA has been immensely involved is affirmative action. In 2013, AERA presented an amicus brief on the importance of science in a major affirmative action case – Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin. [11] In 2022, AERA submitted an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in support of narrowly tailored race-conscious admissions practices in the cases of Students for Fair Admissions, Inc., v. President & Fellows of Harvard College, and Students for Fair Admissions, Inc., v. University of North Carolina, et al. [12] AERA also presented an amicus brief on affirmative action in December 2015.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Physical Society</span> Organization of physicists

The American Physical Society (APS) is a not-for-profit membership organization of professionals in physics and related disciplines, comprising nearly fifty divisions, sections, and other units. Its mission is the advancement and diffusion of knowledge of physics. The society publishes more than a dozen scientific journals, including the prestigious Physical Review and Physical Review Letters, and organizes more than twenty science meetings each year. APS is a member society of the American Institute of Physics. Since January 2021 the organization has been led by chief executive officer Jonathan Bagger.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Society for Microbiology</span> American scholarly society focused on microbiology

The American Society for Microbiology (ASM), originally the Society of American Bacteriologists, is a professional organization for scientists who study viruses, bacteria, fungi, algae, and protozoa as well as other aspects of microbiology. It was founded in 1899. The Society publishes a variety of scientific journals, textbooks, and other educational materials related to microbiology and infectious diseases. ASM organizes annual meetings, as well as workshops and professional development opportunities for its members.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medical Library Association</span> Nonprofit, educational organization of health-sciences information professionals

The Medical Library Association (MLA) is a nonprofit educational organization with more than 3,400 health-sciences information professional members.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Linguistic Society of America</span> Learned society in the US

The Linguistic Society of America (LSA) is a learned society for the field of linguistics. Founded in New York City in 1924, the LSA works to promote the scientific study of language. The society publishes three scholarly journals: Language, the open access journal Semantics and Pragmatics, and the open access journal Phonological Data & Analysis. Its annual meetings, held every winter, foster discussion amongst its members through the presentation of peer-reviewed research, as well as conducting official business of the society. Since 1928, the LSA has offered training to linguists through courses held at its biennial Linguistic Institutes held in the summer. The LSA and its 3,600 members work to raise awareness of linguistic issues with the public and contribute to policy debates on issues including bilingual education and the preservation of endangered languages.

Gloria Jean Ladson-Billings FBA is an American pedagogical theorist and teacher educator known for her work in the fields of culturally relevant pedagogy and critical race theory, and the pernicious effects of systemic racism and economic inequality on educational opportunities. Her book The Dreamkeepers: Successful Teachers of African-American Children is a significant text in the field of education. Ladson-Billings is Professor Emerita and formerly the Kellner Family Distinguished Professor of Urban Education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

The American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) is a professional society that was founded in 1960.

Geoffrey D. Borman is an American quantitative methodologist and policy analyst. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 1997 and is currently the Alice Wiley Snell Endowed Professor at Arizona State University, Director of the Arizona State University Education Sciences Graduate Program, and Editor of Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback</span>

The Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (AAPB) was founded in 1969 as the Biofeedback Research Society (BRS). The association aims to promote understanding of biofeedback and advance the methods used in this practice. AAPB is a non-profit organization as defined in Section 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Service Code.

The European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) is a scientific association founded in Montecatini Terme, Italy in 1965 with Joseph Hoet as Founding President. The aims of the association are to encourage and support research in the field of diabetes, the rapid diffusion of acquired knowledge in that field, and to facilitate its application.

Founded in 1981, the American Journalism Historians Association (AJHA) seeks to advance education and research in mass communication history. Through its annual meeting, regional conferences, committees, awards, speakers and publications, members work to raise historical standards and ensure that all scholars and students recognize the vast importance of media history and apply this knowledge to the advancement of society.

The American Physiological Society is a non-profit professional society for physiologists. It has nearly 10,000 members, most of whom hold doctoral degrees in medicine, physiology, or other health professions. Its mission is to support research and education in the physiological sciences. The society publishes 16 peer-reviewed journals, sponsors scientific conferences, and sponsors awards to further this mission.

<i>Review of Educational Research</i> Academic journal

The Review of Educational Research is a bimonthly peer-reviewed review journal published by SAGE Publications on behalf of the American Educational Research Association. It was established in 1931 and covers all aspects of education and educational research. The journal's co-editors are Mildred Boveda, Karly Sarita Ford, Erica Frankenberg, and Francesca López.

<i>Review of Research in Education</i> Academic journal

Review of Research in Education is a peer-reviewed academic journal published by SAGE Publications on behalf of the American Educational Research Association. It covers research in the field of education. The editors-in-chief for 2022 and 2024 are Ronald A. Beghetto and Yong Zhao. The 2023 and 2025 editors are Vivian L. Gadsden and David Osher. It was established in 1973. The 2021 editors are Greg Kazinsky, Ethan Paterson, and Robbert Snow.

The Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) is a nonprofit higher education organization with headquarters in Washington, DC. Its mission is to advance graduate education and research. Its main activities consist of best practice initiatives, data analysis, advocacy, and global engagement.

The American College of Toxicology (ACT) is a professional association dedicated to providing an interactive forum for the advancement and exchange of scientific information in the field of toxicology.

Eve Tuck is an Unangax̂ scholar in the field of Indigenous studies and educational research. Tuck is the Professor of Critical Race and Indigenous Studies at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto. Dr. Tuck will be joining the faculty of NYU in 2024 as the founding director of their Center for Indigenous Studies.

Peter Arcidiacono is an American economist and econometrician. He received his PhD from Wisconsin in 1999 and has taught at Duke University ever since. He became a fellow of the Econometric Society in 2018.

Michelene (Micki) T. H. Chi is a cognitive and learning scientist known for her work on the development of expertise, benefits of self-explanations, and active learning in the classroom. Chi is the Regents Professor, Dorothy Bray Endowed Professor of Science and Teaching at Arizona State University, where she directs the Learning and Cognition Lab.

Danielle S. McNamara is an educational researcher known for her theoretical and empirical work with reading comprehension and the development of game-based literacy technologies. She is professor of psychology and senior research scientist at Arizona State University. She has previously held positions at University of Memphis, Old Dominion University, and University of Colorado, Boulder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Okhee Lee</span> American education scholar

Okhee Lee is an American education scholar and professor of childhood education.

References

  1. 1 2 "AERA Leadership". www.aera.net. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Who are we". www.aera.net. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
  3. "Organizational Structure and Governance". www.aera.net. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  4. "AERA By The Numbers". www.aera.net. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
  5. Mershon, Sherie; Schlossman, Steven. "Education, Science, and the Politics of Knowledge: The American Educational Research Association, 1915–1940" (PDF). www.aera.net. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  6. "Books". www.aera.net. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  7. "Journals". www.aera.net. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  8. "Facts About the AERA Annual Meeting". www.aera.net. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  9. Proposed Revisions to the Common Rule for the Protection of Human Subjects in the Behavioral and Social Sciences | The National Academies Press. 2014. doi:10.17226/18614. ISBN   978-0-309-29806-3. PMID   25032406 . Retrieved May 12, 2015.{{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  10. "House Committee Advances IES Reauthorization Bill". www.aera.net. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  11. "Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin". www.aera.net. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  12. "Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. AERA et al". www.aera.net. Retrieved August 18, 2023.

Further reading