The research at the Department of Education is broad, diverse and draws from many scientific backgrounds. The centres of research are educational sociology, educational psychology and the history of education. Educational sociology covers the entire school system and is directed towards educational policy and comparative educational science. Research is directed in one direction towards the entire school system's structural themes and educational choice as well as social discrimination, on a more mikro-sociological level, such as the course of life of various social groups and themes associated with education.

Research in educational psychology concerns itself with learning, expertise and learning environments. The department has a long tradition in research into learning and study orientation and the analysis of motivational factors. Research into themes connected with this subjects is conducted with subjects from secondary schools and university. Research on expertise is concerned with the academic learning environment: the relationship between higher education students' learning processes and cultural background as well as the quality of teaching in higher education.

The department also has long traditions in research into adult education. Above all, research is directed towards the relationship between education and working life, careers and participation in adult education. In addition research into special pedagogy, educational philosophy, early education and music therapy have to be taken into consderation. Research into special pedagogy is concerned with themes such as deafness and developmenatl dyslexia. The objects in research into educaitonal philosphy are, amongst others, Steiner padagogy, university eduacation as well as questions of a scientific and critical nature in higher education. Early education is directed towards, amongst other things, discrimination in childhood and childrens' social relationships. Experiences through music and music's meaning in the circle of life are a couple of the themes of research into music therapy.

The number of research projects within the department has risen dramatically over the last few years. This has meant that the number of researchers in the department has been on constant increase. The department leads two national educational research schools: educational policy, comparative education and the evaluation of education and learning and teaching. External funding for reasearch projects comes from, amongst others, the Academy of Finland, the European Union, the Ministry of Education, the teaching administration, parliament's various funds, foundations as well as communities in the region.