Abstract:

The construction of a high-quality science education system is a fundamental project to promote the integrated deployment of education, science and technology, and human resources. However, the high-quality development of science education cannot be achieved without the support of solid science education research. Referring to the key policies and critical events in science education, China's science education has gone through four development periods, namely “recovery and adjustment”, “rapid development”, “innovation and exploration” and “systematic construction”. Through constructing a three-dimensional analytic framework of “policy-research-social infrastructure”, this study systematically analyzes the research progress of science education in China at different stages of development. Drawing upon these findings, this study summarizes the logic of development in China's science education research, in terms of the development impetus, basic guarantee as well as the model of knowledge production. Finally, this study puts forward five suggestions for the future of science education research in China, including constructing a funding system for science education, focusing on key scientific research questions, forming an interdisciplinary research community, conducting multiple types of empirical research and coordinating policies and practices with multiple stakeholders.

Key words: science education in China, science education research, historical evolution, the logic of development