Interaction between educational research and practice: Collaboration, strategies and conditions

Abstract

The aim of this study was to gain insight in knowledge mobilization (KM) in educational research, focusing on the type of collaboration, the strategies and the conditions. KM reflects the interaction and relationship between educational research and practice and requires specific effort over time. We studied 69 research reports and held 12 group interviews with consortia of researchers and teachers. Results show that the research projects could be characterized as researcher-directed or school-and- researcher directed collaboration. Strategies for KM found in these collaborations were mainly ‘transferring’ and ‘implementing’. ‘Co-creation’ as a strategy was found more often in school- and researcher collaboration projects. Finally, the conditions enabling or constraining KM were found at the level of research knowledge, the individual teacher and researcher, school organization, research organization, consortium, and communication. Implications for future research are discussed.