URL:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00131911.2024.2311195
In the illuminating article titled "Querying queer quantitative educational research: a systematic literature review," the authors embark on a comprehensive journey through the landscape of quantitative research within queer educational studies. This meticulously conducted review is an invaluable resource for scholars, educators, and advocates interested in the intersections of education, queer theory, and quantitative methods, making it a must-read for those engaged in or aspiring to contribute to this burgeoning field.
Spanning the years 2011 to 2022, the study meticulously combs through education journals to identify and analyze 55 articles that utilize quantitative methods and engage with the language of queerness. This exploration is critical in understanding how queer theoretical perspectives are integrated into quantitative research methodologies in education, an area that has witnessed notable growth over the past decade.
The authors provide a nuanced analysis of these articles, focusing on their theoretical engagements, the representation and inclusion of LGBTQ+ identities and people, the consideration of race and racism, and the specific analytic approaches employed. Their findings reveal a notable scarcity in the engagement with queer theory among these studies, with queerness often being simplified to encompass primarily gay, lesbian, and occasionally bisexual identities. This reductionism overlooks the rich diversity within the LGBTQ+ community and the complexity of queer identities.
Furthermore, the review highlights a predominant focus on white participants within these studies, with racial considerations typically framed in comparison to white benchmarks. Despite this trend, the authors acknowledge instances of race-conscious work that strive to bring a more inclusive lens to queer quantitative educational research.
The analytic techniques predominantly employed in the identified articles—t-tests, ANOVAs, and regression analyses—reflect traditional quantitative methodologies. This choice of methods underscores the necessity for ongoing critical reflection on how quantitative research can more effectively capture and reflect the complexities of queer experiences in educational settings.
"Querying queer quantitative educational research: a systematic literature review" stands as a seminal work that challenges researchers to deepen their theoretical engagement with queer perspectives and to strive for greater inclusivity in terms of LGBTQ+ identities and racial considerations. It calls for a critical reevaluation of quantitative methodologies to ensure they are fully responsive to the nuances of queer experiences in educational research. This article not only charts the current state of the field but also sets the stage for future inquiries that are more theoretically robust, inclusive, and reflective of the diversity within the LGBTQ+ community.