Corrado Matta

I am an associate professor at the Department of Education.

Teaching

I teach in several courses in theory and philosophy of science, and research method courses, both qualitative and quantitative methods, as parts of several programs including teacher education, general education and working life education.

Research

My research concerns two main areas:

Foundations of Research Methods
My research in this area explores the philosophical and methodological foundations of qualitative and mixed-methods research. I examine how different epistemological paradigms shape the use of evidence in social sciences, with a particular focus on the explanatory power of discourse analysis and the integration of data and theory in evaluation research. My work also investigates the role of mechanistic reasoning in qualitative inquiry, challenging traditional distinctions between causal and interpretive explanations. Additionally, I study how research methods shape the construction of evidence in education, contributing to a deeper understanding of methodological rigor in empirical research. 

My research in this area also focuses on the concept of selective abduction and its fundamental role in human interpretation and in interpretive research methods in the social sciences.

Evidence-Based Practice in Education
I study how educators engage with research-based knowledge and empirical data to inform their professional decision-making. My work explores the cognitive and discursive mechanisms that underlie teachers’ interpretation and use of student data, as well as the broader challenges of implementing evidence-based practice in schools. Through empirical studies, including focus groups and experimental designs, I examine how teachers balance research findings with professional judgment when making instructional decisions. In addition, I have critically analyzed the evidence relationship between neuroscience and education, highlighting the complexities of translating scientific knowledge into classroom practice.

I am also currently investigating how the philosophical theory of Evidential Pluralism can be applied to evidence-based policy in education.

I am a member of the research group Studies in Curriculum, Teaching and Evaluation (SITE).