Pragmatism [Not Just] Practicality as a Theoretical Framework in Literacy Research

In this chapter, the authors attempt to more clearly distinguish between pragmatism as a broad philosophical position, and its practicality component as it has been applied to inquiry. They comment on how research methodologists and researchers have leaned more toward practicality, and in doing so, missed our stance and other scholars' positions on why pragmatism, more broadly, is and will continue to be useful and necessary, even aside from the practicality arguments. The authors critique the use of "pragmatism" as an umbrella term for research approaches like mixed methods and design-based research to the exclusion of other approaches that may also be grounded in both pragmatism and practicality. They offer a caution that pragmatism's very popularity as a way to address "practical" issues and answer "authentic" questions could also be its downfall. They explore the implications of these issues for literacy researchers.