TY - JOUR
T1 - Knowledge capital theory: a critical analysis using Lakatos’ idea of research programmes
AU - Williams, Daniel
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 British Association for International and Comparative Education.
PY - 2021/1/29
Y1 - 2021/1/29
N2 - This paper introduces and uses Lakatos’ idea of research programmes to summarise and critically evaluate academic discourse towards knowledge capital theory. The analysis uses rational reconstruction to formulate the components of the hardcore and protective belt of knowledge capital theory. By critically surveying the literature, it challenges the validity of the claims made by Erik Hanushek, Ludger Woessmann and the OECD that there is a causal link between cognitive development and economic growth. It concludes by stating that knowledge capital theory in its current form is degenerate and should be considered a high-risk research programme and that more sophisticated theories are required to be developed to explain current phenomena.
AB - This paper introduces and uses Lakatos’ idea of research programmes to summarise and critically evaluate academic discourse towards knowledge capital theory. The analysis uses rational reconstruction to formulate the components of the hardcore and protective belt of knowledge capital theory. By critically surveying the literature, it challenges the validity of the claims made by Erik Hanushek, Ludger Woessmann and the OECD that there is a causal link between cognitive development and economic growth. It concludes by stating that knowledge capital theory in its current form is degenerate and should be considered a high-risk research programme and that more sophisticated theories are required to be developed to explain current phenomena.
KW - Human capital theory
KW - OECD
KW - PISA
KW - international large-scale assessments
KW - knowledge capital theory
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85100081651&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/03057925.2021.1881448
DO - 10.1080/03057925.2021.1881448
M3 - Article
JO - Compare : A Journal of Comparative and International Education
JF - Compare : A Journal of Comparative and International Education
SN - 0305-7925
ER -