This volume critically examines the state of research in education during 1998, focusing on the methodologies, findings, and theoretical underpinnings that shaped the field. Michael W. Apple, a prominent scholar in curriculum and critical pedagogy, synthesizes key studies to present a nuanced overview of educational research's progress and challenges. The book aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the dominant paradigms and emerging trends within educational scholarship at the close of the 20th century.

The 'Review of Research in Education' series is generally regarded as a significant contribution to the academic discourse, providing annual syntheses of the field's progress. This particular volume, edited by Michael W. Apple, is expected to offer a rigorous and critical perspective on educational research trends of its time. Scholars anticipate a detailed examination of the methodologies and theoretical debates that characterized educational scholarship in 1998.