Gail M. Jensen, Terrence Nordstrom, Richard L. Segal, Christine McCallum, Cecilia Graham, Bruce Greenfield

Educational research has been labeled as the "hardest science" of all given the challenges of teaching and learning that take place in an environment where there is a mix of social interactions, events, problems coupled with a persistent belief that education depends more on common sense than disciplined knowledge and skill. As a scientific field of study, the American Educational Research Association specifies that education research examines teaching and learning processes across settings that shape educational outcomes and a learning process takes place throughout a person's life. The complexity of learning and learning environments requires not only a diverse array of research methods but a community of educational researchers committed to exploration of the critical questions in the education of physical therapists. While basic research and clinical research in physical therapy has continued to expand through a growing number of funded physical therapist researchers, the profession still lacks a robust and vibrant community of educational researchers. The American Council of Academic Physical Therapy's (ACAPT) task force on education research proposes in this perspective paper a compelling rationale for building a much needed foundation for education research in physical therapy including a set of recommendations for immediate action.