Use of Practical Science in the Evaluation of Reforms in Japanese Higher Education

Abstract

　 This paper examines the role of practical science in evaluation recent educational reforms in Japanese higher education. Practical science refers to the fundamental attitude of the researcher towards the subject of study, including the basic ideas, assumptions, and objectives of the study, and the study’s application to daily life. Practical science does not refer to study such as engineering, medical science, or management science.

　 Practical science is understood in three ways : an inquiry for profit orientation, an empirical approach based on evidence and date through experiment or field survey, and application of the study’s outcome to everyday human practices.

　 Using practical science as an evaluative tool, this article examines an educational reform implemented at a private Japanese university. The reform focused on improving the quality of campus life by improving customer satisfaction and the contributions of information technology. The research in this article is based on student surveys focusing specifically upon student course evaluation and student evaluation of computer networks on campus.

　 The results show that students prefer two-way communication with their instructors and that the enrichment of the technology environment for students contributes greatly to students’ satisfaction. The findings from the research can be useful in measuring institutional quality assurance.