Bio

Dr. McDermott takes a broad interest in the analysis of human communication, the organization of school success and failure, and the history and use of various literacies around the world. His work includes studies of inner-city public schools, after-school classrooms, and the function of information technologies in different cultures. At present, he is workinng on the intellectual history of ideas like genius, intelligence, race, and capital.

Academic Appointments

  • Emeritus Faculty, Acad Council, Graduate School of Education

Administrative Appointments

  • Professor of Education and (by courtesy) Cultural and Social Anthropology, Stanford Graduate School of Education (1989 - Present)
  • Emeritus Professor of Anthropology (by courtesy), Stanford Graduate School of Education (2019 - Present)

Boards, Advisory Committees, Professional Organizations

  • Co-Director, Teacher Education Program (1994 - 1996)
  • Professor, Teachers College, Columbia University (1985 - 1989)
  • Associate Professor, Teachers College, Columbia University (1979 - 1985)
  • Assistant Professor, Laboratory of Comparative Human Cognition, Rockefeller University (1975 - 1979)
  • Elementary School Teacher, New York City Public Schools (1968 - 1970)

Program Affiliations

  • Symbolic Systems Program

Professional Education

  • BA, Queens College, Philosophy and Chinese (1967)
  • PhD, Stanford University, Anthropology (1977)

Contact

  • Academic
    rpmcd@stanford.edu
    University - Emeritus faculty Department: Graduate School of Education Position: Emeritus Faculty, Acad Council
    • CUBBERLEY 327
    • Stanford,  California  94305-3096 
    (650) 725-7412 (fax)

Additional Info

  • Mail Code: 3096

Research Interests

  • Educational Policy
  • Literacy and Language
  • Parents and Family Issues
  • Special Education

Current Research and Scholarly Interests

Interaction analysis and social structure; the political economy of learning; writing systems; educational and psychological anthropology.

2023-24 Courses

All Publications

  • Learning “how to mean”: Embodiment in cultural practice. Handbook of the Cultural Foundations of Learning. McDermott, R., Pea, R., Kinney-de Royston, M. edited by Nasir, N., Lee, C., Pea, R. Routledge. 2020; 1: 199–218

    View details for DOI 6

  • Beyond the culture of poverty, again. Diaspora, Indigenous, and Minority Education McDermott, R., Vossoughi , S. 2020; 14 (2): 60-69
  • The work of learning from silence. In A. Edwards, M. Fleer, & L. Bøttcher (eds.), Cultural-historical Approaches to Studying Learning and Development (215-232). Springer. Cultural-historical Approaches to Studying Learning and Development McDermott, R., Rutherford-Quach, S., Steinboch, D. edited by Edwards, A., Fleer, M., Bottcher, L. 2019: 215–232
  • In praise of school children: A convocation address Mind, Culture, and Activity McDermott, R. 2018; 24 (4): 281-292
  • A Glimpse at Eternity MIND CULTURE AND ACTIVITY McDermott, R. 2017; 24 (2): 150-153

    View details for DOI 10.1080/10749039.2017.1308516

    View details for Web of Science ID 000401058600008

  • Yorick’s ethnographic journey Sterne, Tristram, Yorick: Tercentenary Essays on Laurence Sterne McDermott, R. edited by de Voogd, P., Hawley, J., New, M. Univesity of Delaware Press. 2016: 169–186
  • Does “learning” exist? Word McDermott, R. 2015; 61 (4): 335-349
  • "One aneither”: A Joycean critique of educational research Journal of Educational Controversy McDermott, R. 2014; 5 (1)
  • A Shandean description of Frakean "ethnographic behavior." Novel Approaches to Anthropology: Contributions to Literary Anthropology McDermott, R. edited by Cohen, M. Lexington. 2013: 27–72
  • The ethnography of schooling writ large, 1955-2010 Companion to the Anthropology of Education McDermott, R., Raley, J. edited by Levinson , B., Pollock, M. Wiley-Blackwell. 2011: 4431–445
  • Can we afford theories of learning? Theories of Learning and Research on Instructional Practice McDermott, R. edited by Kocshmann, T. Springer. 2011: 403–415
  • Ray McDermott & Jason Raley “The tell-tale body”: The constitution of disability in schools. In T. Quinn & D. Stoval (eds.), Handbook of Social Justice in Education McDermott, R., Raley, J. edited by Ayers, W., Quinn, T., Stoval, D. LEA. 2010: 4431–445
  • Looking closely: Toward a natural history of human ingenuity. In E. Margolis & L. Pauwels (eds.), (272-291). Sage. Handbook of Visual Research Methods McDermott, R., Raley, J. edited by Margolis, E., Pauwels, L. Sage. 2010: 272–291
  • Race and Class in a Culture of Risk REVIEW OF RESEARCH IN EDUCATION, VOL 33, 2009 McDermott, R., Raley, J. D., Seyer-Ochi, I. 2009; 33: 101-116

    View details for DOI 10.3102/0091732X08327163

    View details for Web of Science ID 000263704200005

  • The superstition of necessity Philosophy and Education 2008 McDermott, R. 2009
  • Plans, takes, and mis-takes Outlines. Critical Practice Studies Klemp, N., McDermott, R., Raley, J., Thibeault, M., Powell, K., Levitin, D. J. 2008; 10 (1): 4-21
  • Scientifically debased research on learning, 1854-2006 ANTHROPOLOGY & EDUCATION QUARTERLY McDermott, R., Hall, K. D. 2007; 38 (1): 9-15

    View details for DOI 10.1525/aeq.2007.38.1.9

    View details for Web of Science ID 000246514200002

  • Staying the course with video analysis Video research in the learning sciences Goldman, S., McDermott, R. 2007: 101-113
  • Fine Description: Ethnographic and Linguistic Essays of Harold C. Conklin edited by Kuipers, J., McDermott, R. Yale University Southeast Asia Studies. 2007
  • Reflections on the field - "And this is how you shall ask": Linguistics, anthropology, and education in the work of David Smith ANTHROPOLOGY & EDUCATION QUARTERLY Gilmore, P., McDermott, R. 2006; 37 (2): 199-211

    View details for Web of Science ID 000246513800010

  • Situating genius Counterpoints McDermott, R. 2006; 249: 285-302
  • What is not known about genius What You Don’t Know about Schools McDermott, R. Springer. 2006: 183–209
  • Reconstructing culture in educational research Innovations in educational ethnography: Theories, methods, and results McDermott, R., Varenne, H. 2006: 3-31
  • The cultural work of learning disabilities Educational Researcher McDermott, R., Goldman, S., Varenne, H. 2006; 35 (6): 12-17
  • In praise of negation ZEITSCHRIFT FUR PADAGOGIK McDermott, R. 2005: 150-170

    View details for Web of Science ID 000228904800011

  • Materials for a confrontation with genius as a personal identity ETHOS McDermott, R. 2004; 32 (2): 278-288

    View details for Web of Science ID 000222928900008

  • Estranged labor learning Outlines. Critical Practice Studies Lave, J., McDermott, R. 2002; 4 (1): 19-48
  • A century of Margaret Mead TEACHERS COLLEGE RECORD McDermott, R. 2001; 103 (5): 843-867

    View details for Web of Science ID 000172087400004

  • Research, reform, and the aims of education: Modes of action in search of each other. Issues in Education Research Greeno, J., McDermott, R., Cole, K., Engel, R. edited by Lagemann, E., Shulman, L. Jossey-Bass. 1998: 299–335
  • When is math or science? Thinking Practices in Mathematics and Science Learning McDermott, R., Webber, V. edited by Greeno, J., Goldman, S. Erlbaum. 1998: 321–339
  • Conklin, Joyce, and the Wannaknow AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST McDermott, R. 1997; 99 (2): 257-?

    View details for Web of Science ID A1997XG80000002

  • Achieving school failure, 1972-1997 Education and Cultural Process McDermott, R. edited by Spindler, G. Waveleand. 1997; Third: 110–135
  • Culture, development, disability Conference on Ethnographic Approaches to the Study of Human Development MCDERMOTT, R. P., Varenne, H. UNIV CHICAGO PRESS. 1996: 101–126

    View details for Web of Science ID A1996BF99H00005

  • Insular Southeast Asian scripts The World’s Writing Systems Kuipers, J., McDermott, R. edited by Daniels, P., Bright, W. Oxford. 1996: 474–484
  • CULTURE AS DISABILITY ANTHROPOLOGY & EDUCATION QUARTERLY McDermott, R., Varenne, H. 1995; 26 (3): 324-348

    View details for Web of Science ID A1995RT19700005

  • The acquisition of a child by a Learning Disability Understanding Practice McDermott, R. edited by Chaiklin, S., Lave, J. Cambridge University Press. 1993: 269–305