Title: Four Six Ways to Improve Research Use
1Four Six Ways to Improve Research Use
Ronald Dietel
American Educational Research AssociationAnnual
Meeting New York City - March 26, 2008
2Campbell Report RD Funding Policies of NIE
- We understand the political pressure for
dissemination of the results of RD, but we
conclude that NIE has done little to attack the
problem - We do not think that work in the field can be
halted until theory catches up - Research on knowledge-utilization could be more
extensively funded as an essential basis for
policy in this area. - Roald Campbell others, 1975
3Education Research Could Improve Schools, But
Probably Wont
- Research is not readily accessibleeither
physically or intellectuallyto the potential
users. - Summaries of major studies appear in periodicals
like Education Week, but the detailed results
(usually written for other researchers in
academic-speak) are usually available only in
separate reports or in relatively low-circulation
journals that dont reach those who most need to
know. - Ronald Wolk, Education Week, 2007
4International Focus on Research Use-OECD
- Use-inspired basic research
- Systematic accumulation and dissemination of
knowledge - Stronger research-use capacity
- Research-based continuous improvement strategies
51. Use-Inspired Research
- Is it useful for the intended audience?
- Is it credible?
- Is it timely?
62. Increase Teacher Research Knowledge and Beliefs
- Believe that research is valuable
- Know where to find research
- Know good research from poor research
- Have time to use research
- Know what to do when things dont work
73. More Exemplars of Effective Practice
- What Works Clearinghouse
- Research Centers Organizations
- RD Labs
- Comprehensive Centers
84. Communicate in Plain Language
- Schools of Education
- AERA
- Professional Associations
9Simplify Writing
- For example, one indication of the move towards
the ikonic mode is shown when the child turns the
sensorimotor understanding that an object
exists regardless of his/her perception of it to
an ikonic conception of it - the sensorimotor skills of walking and grasping
form the basis for the running and catching games
of later childhood and early adulthood. - Most importantly, these sensorimotor skills will
now be available to contribute to intermodal
activity as the individual moves through other
modes.
10Tables and Graphs
11More is Messy
- Research Questions
- Are the districts formative assessments aligned
to state and school district content standards? - Do the district formative assessments improve
learning in mathematics? - What is the correlation between performance on
the district assessments and performance on the
state test? - Formative assessments that are not aligned to
standards are not useful in guiding and informing
instruction, Smith and James, 1992 - Analysis of mathematics content standards that
had been used to design third-grade assessments,
was then used to design instruction--with
learning experts - Random selection of 400 students who received
different types of math instruction (ten lessons
each) before taking the district mathematics
assessment - Data on mathematics alignment
- Evidence collected in mathematics formative
assessment using different mathematics curricula
and instruction - Learning experts analysis of data
- Triangulation of data
- Study Results
12Less is Lovely
- Do the district formative assessments improve
learning in mathematics?
135. Research Use Center
- Synthesize Existing Knowledge
- Lessons from Other Disciplines
- Research on Research Use
- Spread to others
146. What AERA, IES and We Can Do
- Promote use-inspired basic research
- Make it part of what we do
- Promote funding
- Regular collaborative activities
15Six Ways to Improve Research Use
- Quality research
- Increase teacher knowledge
- More exemplars
- Communicate in plain language
- Research use center
- Shared roles and responsibilities
16ron_at_ucla.edu