Educational research has long been characterized by an intense debate raised by supporters of evidence-based education on the desirability of basing educational practices on research results. The basic idea is that, though being education one of the most complex and variable areas of human action, research can help gather and settle reliable knowledge, which in turn can help reach more informed decisions and tangible results. This article, after analysing and discussing the basic concepts of the proposal, including the main objections it has raised, and after presenting the international initiatives and the Italian proposal of the SAPIE association, ends by suggesting the reasons for a critical and thoughtful adoption of the research results in educational practice.
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