Whatever happened to curriculum theory? Critical realism and curriculum change

Citation

Priestley M (2011) Whatever happened to curriculum theory? Critical realism and curriculum change. Pedagogy, Culture and Society, 19 (2), pp. 221-237. https://doi.org/10.1080/14681366.2011.582258

Abstract
In the face of what has been characterised as a ‘crisis’ in curriculum – an apparent decline of some aspects of curriculum studies combined with the emergence of new types of national curriculum which downgrade knowledge – some writers have been arguing for the use of realist theory to address these issues. This paper offers a contribution to this debate, drawing upon critical realism, and especially upon the social theory of Margaret Archer. The paper first outlines the supposed crisis in curriculum, before providing an overview of some of the key tenets of critical realism. The paper concludes by speculating on how critical realism may offer new ways of thinking to inform policy and practice in a key curricular problematic. This is the issue of curriculum change.

Keywords
curriculum; critical realism; curriculum change; curriculum theory; Critical realism; Curriculum change; Curriculum planning

Journal
Pedagogy, Culture and Society: Volume 19, Issue 2