Poster #18 - Increasing the Impact of Early Childhood Research: Changing the Narrative for Policy Makers

• In Event: 35.081 - MTCC Poster Session Eight
  In Poster Session: 35.081-2 - Early Childhood Poster Session 2

Abstract

This paper argues that effective communication of research findings to varying audiences is a critical task for researchers, particularly in areas with great societal impact, such as early childhood education. Focusing on preschool teacher compensation as a central example, the study shows how the existing research has failed to have a significant influence on policy decisions. Offering a detailed analysis of recent compensation research and how it has been presented in the academic literature and in public forums, the author suggests that the way that researchers communicate complicated ideas often acts as a barrier to the potential effects of this information. The study provides recommendations for better research communication to policymakers to allow that data to make a stronger impact.

Author

• Bridget E. Thomas, George Mason University