Situated Partnership: Dynamics of Role Formation in a Research-Practice Partnership

• In Event: School-University Partnerships: Past, Present, and Future

Abstract

Research-practice partnerships (RRPs) are a common approach to bridge the researcher-practitioner gap in education. Yet limited research on RRPs necessitates further investigation. This qualitative study focused on a large RRP, involving two higher education institutions and 21 schools, aiming to enhance school practices through practitioner-led research. The study examined the roles and role formation of academic faculty-members supporting schools in their research endeavors. Analysis of faculty discourse revealed active role construction within the partnership through interactions with each school, which we termed "situated partnership." Faculty roles were categorized along two dimensions: research-facilitator/external-researcher and school research/academic research. The findings shed light on RPP dynamics, highlighting faculty-members adaptation and negotiation of their roles to support schools. This study informs future RPP collaborations.

Authors

• Linor Lea Hadar, University of Haifa

• Hadar Baharav, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

• Etan Cohen, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev