Beyond Reasonable Doubt? Researching ‘race’ in educational settings

Abstract Abstract This article is intended to highlight some of the main features about race‐related research in education as it is configured in the 1990s. More specifically, it reflects on the status of antiracist research and addresses the thorny issue of the legitimacy of research which is explicitly 'partisan'. In offering a position statement on partisan research I am particularly concerned with addressing the question: to what extent is the term, 'partisan research', an oxymoron? 1 1This article started life as a contribution to the Racial Equality in Initial Teacher Education project, funded by the Leverhulme Trust (Reference Number F215A.E). I am grateful to Leverhulme and to colleagues on the project for their support in its initial stages. Thanks also to David Halpin, Derek Layder, Sally Tomlinson, Carol Vincent and, in particular, Martyn Denscombe for acting as 'critical friends' in the later phases.