Knowledge Mobilization in the Production of Education Research: A Mixed-Methods Study

• In Event: Research Use: Motivation, Mobilization, and Brokerage

Abstract

Knowledge mobilization (KMb) is the active and intentional process of sharing knowledge among research production, mediation, and use contexts. Despite decades of study, very little is known about how to do KMb well. Drawing on a national study of research use and production in education, we present a mixed methods analysis of KMb, featuring ten case studies of research projects. Our findings yielded five key lessons for KMb: (1) any type of research can be practice-centered, (2) there is no single model for KMb, (3) KMb strategies can improve the quality of research, (4) values—and the relationships they enable—matter, and (5) research may be practice-centered in spite of but not because of the larger research enterprise.

Authors

• Elizabeth N. Farley-Ripple, University of Delaware

• Stephen W. MacGregor, University of Calgary

• Mia Mazal, University of Delaware