Realists or pragmatists? “Reliable evidence” and the role of the educational psychologist

Outcomes of interviews with seven educational psychologists, focused on issues of epistemological and ontological positioning, are reported. The interviews were conducted within a qualitative, biographical research paradigm which examines the ways in which a person’s meaning-making is impacted upon by all aspects of their life experience. Thematic analysis suggests most participants are ambivalent about the scientific basis of their work and the contribution of peer reviewed research to their practice, and they regard the utility or social value of their professional practice as more important than its congruence with a recognised evidence base. This standpoint is compared to the philosophical position of pragmatism, which resists the assumptions of realist perspectives and contests the primacy of scientific methodology and methods in the establishment of knowledge claims. Implications for the professional practice of educational psychologists beyond the present study are discussed.