Foreword

xi

Preface

xxi

Acknowledgments

xxiii

Abbreviations

xxv

Definition of Terms

xxvii

Part I: Introduction

1

Chapter 1: The Study

3

1.1. A Brief Background

3

1.2. Organization of the Book

6

Chapter 2: Background

9

2.1. Theoretical Foundation—Background of the Sociology of Knowledge

9

2.1.1. Mannheim’s Sociology of Knowledge

10

2.1.2. Bloor’s Sociology of Knowledge

17

2.2. Research Assumptions and Points of Departure

20

2.3. Literature Survey of Comparative Education Studies

27

2.3.1. Issues in Comparative Education Studies

27

2.3.2. Comparability and Similarity— What to Compare and How to Compare

33