Research communication is an essential component of research-informed practice. Challenge 5 is studying the research translation process to identify the most effective ways to communicate findings from research on early mathematical learning to teachers and other educational practitioners.
This Challenge involves a range of activities:
- We are developing a framework encompassing the communication and implementation of research. This has drawn together research factors that may impact the likelihood that research successfully translates to practice. It identifies ways that researchers can increase the likelihood of successful translation
- Via interview and online surveys we are gathering practitioners’ views on how research is typically communicated to inform the development of effective research communication resources. We are also investigating perceived barriers to engaging with research from teachers in primary schools and early years settings.
- A series of online studies are assessing the factors that influence practitioners’ perceptions and interpretations of research. These are revealing the impact of different ways of communicating effect sizes, uncertainty of findings, and the features of research summaries in terms of practitioners’ understanding and attitudes to research findings.
As the Centre’s work develops, these findings will be used to inform the development of new professional development activities based on the Centre’s research findings.