Research to Practice Issues

Abstract

Educators frequently lament the limited effect research has on educational practices. Special educators often are frustrated by the observation that there appears to be a haphazard or inverse relationship between popular intervention procedures and reliable research data. Addressing research-to-practice issues effectively requires getting researchers to do better research and getting policymakers to make better choices. Better research is characterized by trustworthiness, useability, and accessibility. In addition, research-based procedures should involve minimal risk of harm, be practical and sustainable, be believable and socially valid, be implemented with a high degree of fidelity, and be accompanied by systematic training programs. Consensus must be built among influence producers, knowledge producers, regulation producers, and knowledge consumers regarding needed research and criteria for selecting interventions. Future research should be directed toward finding ways to suppress the tendency to accept unsubstantiated claims for methods and materials and to construct a culture of support for research-based practices. Special attention should be given to finding ways to maintain research-based practices after they have been taught.