Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. This book focuses on evidence-based practice (EBP) in education. It explores and analyzes a huge range of aspects of EBP and its implications. EBP is well suited to handle delimited aspects of education, such as reading and mathematic instructions, the teaching of science, or even social behavior. The book discusses different types of evidence, the evidentiary relation, and the so-called evidence hierarchy in EBP. There are critics who view EBP as positivist, implying both an illegitimate instrumentalization of practice and severe restrictions on the freedom of professionals to exercise their judgment, who wish to reject it. The book argues that causation is both legitimate and necessary in education. Recent causal theory contains a wealth of conceptual resources for unpacking the core of EBP.