Ever greater scrutiny: researching the bureaucracy of educational accountability

Murphy, M. (2018) Ever greater scrutiny: researching the bureaucracy of educational accountability. In: Wilkins, A. and Olmedo, A. (eds.) Education Governance and Social Theory: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Research. Series: Social theory and methodology in education research. Bloomsbury Press: London. ISBN 9781350040069

Abstract

The bureaucracy surrounding accountability has altered the landscape of educational governance since its development in the last several decades. In particular, the implementation of quality assurance mechanisms – audit, inspection, performance indicators, evaluation – has opened up the education sector to ever greater scrutiny. The education profession is under increasing pressure to evidence accountability to the public and the public purse, with the mechanisms of this bureaucracy designed to increase formal levels of accountability to the state while also making education more accountable to the public via marketisation and the development of a consumer culture. This trend towards ever increasing accountability is part of a broader agenda of regulation in relation to public sector reform initiatives. But like all reform initiatives, this level of educational surveillance has itself been subject to scrutiny from researchers, who aim to detail the consequences of such accountability-led reform. The evidence from a range of studies indicates that accountability can be a ‘double-edged sword’ with a number of unintended consequences arising from the reforms, including risk avoidance. A strong influence on this critique is the social theory of Jürgen Habermas, specifically his Max Weber-inspired critique of lifeworld colonisation. Using case studies from the research literature, the current chapter will examine this theory-driven approach to educational accountability, in particular exploring the ways in which Habermas’ post-positivist ‘critical sociology’ has influenced the debate over educational accountability. The chapter will also cast a critical eye over the ways in which his classic system/lifeworld distinction has been used to bridge the gap between social theory and research methodology.

• Item Type: Book Sections
• Status: Published
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Murphy, Dr Mark
• Authors: Murphy, M.
• Subjects: J Political Science > JA Political science (General); L Education > LB Theory and practice of education
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Education > Robert Owen Centre; College of Social Sciences > School of Education > Educational Leadership & Policy
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Press
• ISBN: 9781350040069