The purpose of this study is to identify and discuss issues related to the tension between contextuality and generalization that are periodically identified over time in research reviews of teaching methods. Three main problems were identified that have faced research over time: 1) the abundance of constraints, 2) the need for highly qualified teachers, and 3) the gap between research and practice. These three issues are said to reflect the contradictions in the original research. The implications of these findings are discussed in the article.