Faculty Research Profiles: Thomas Schwandt

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Professor and Ed. Psych. Department Chair

Educational Psychology
210B Education Building
1310 S. 6th St. MC 708

Professor

Quantitative and Evaluative Research Methodologies
Educational Psychology
217 333-5350
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Research Biography

My scholarship is primarily focused on the intersection of social research and practical philosophy. My work is heavily influenced by the tradition of philosophical hermeneutics and the insights we can draw from that body of work for the way we think about the practices of evaluation and research. These kinds of investigations include questions about the nature of human action, the nature of practice, the nature of understanding in the social/human sciences, the status and validity of the knowledge produced through evaluation and social research, the nature and role of expertise, the nature and role of dialogue and critical reflection in developing understanding, and so on. In addition, as a student of methodology, I investigate matters concerning the ethics of research, the nature and status of evidence, and the ways in which evidence is linked to claims.

Degrees

  • Ph.D., Inquiry Methodology, Indiana University, Bloomington, 1984
  • B.A., English Literature, Valparaiso University, 1970

Key Professional Appointments

  • Chair, Educational Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2007--
  • Affiliate, Educational Policy Studies, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, 2003--
  • Professor, Educational Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2000--
  • Affiliate, Unit for Criticism and Interpretive Theory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2000--
  • Professor, School of Education, Indiana University, Bloomington, 1998-2000
  • Associate Professor, School of Education, Indiana University, Bloomington, 1989-1998

Activities & Honors

  • Member of standing committee, National Academy of Science, National Research Council-DBASSE, 2007-2009
  • Campus Award for Excellence in Gradute & Professional Teaching, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2006
  • Distinguished Teacher/Scholar, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2003- present
  • Paul F. Lazarsfeld Award, American Evaluation Association, 2002
  • Senior College Scholar, College of Education, 2002
  • Teaching Excellence Recognition Award, Indiana University, 1998

Grants

  • Principal Investigator, Evaluation of Norwegian Rehabilitation Program , National Center for Comprehensive Rehabilitation Research and Development, Bødo College (Bødo College, Bødo Norway), 2001

Selected Publications

  • Schwandt, T.A. (2008). Educating for intelligent belief in evaluation. American Journal of Evaluation, 29(2), 139-150.
  • Schwandt, T. A. (2007). Dictionary of qualitative inquiry, (3rd edition). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
  • Schwandt, T. A. (2007). On the importance of revisiting the study of ethics in evaluation. In S. Kushner & N. Norris (Eds.), Dilemmas of engagement: Evaluation and the new public management. Greenwich, CT: JAI Press.
  • Somekh, B., & Schwandt. T. A. (Eds.). (2007). Knowledge production: Research work in interesting times. London: Routledge.
  • Schwandt, T. A., & Burgon, H. (2006). Evaluation and the study of lived experience. In I. F. Shaw, J. C. Greene, & M. M. Mark (Eds.), The Sage handbook of evaluation (pp. 98-117). London: Sage.