Translational Research in Education: A Framework for Effectively Teaching Introductory Courses in Educational Research

• In Event: Teaching and Conducting Educational Research

Abstract

Education students (and their mentors) should gain actual experience with sound research practices that lead to relevant and meaningful outcomes for target populations. In this paper, we argue for the utilization of the translational research paradigm—translating research into practice, and back—as a framework for teaching about research and propose its adaptation for education into “translating research from practice, to theory, and back”. We define a model with three distinct features: (a) discovery can be initiated from perspectives of practice (Community) as well as academia (Theory); (b) the model offers two pathways: Treatment to support experimental testing, and Study to embrace community-based research; and (c) inclusivity, that researchers be drawn from those in academia and practitioners alike.

Authors

• Kevin Arthur Ball, University of Hartford

• Ralph O. Mueller, University of Hartford