Using Action Research to Close the “Research Practice Gap”

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Sunday 7:45 am - Gold 3
  In Roundtable Session: Action Research as an Intellectual, Professional, Pedagogical, and Methodological Tool for Pre-Service Teacher Empowerment and Continuous Growth

Abstract

The gulf between research and practice, termed the “research practice gap” has long been known. This disconnect often leads to decision making without a thorough understanding of the underlying foundations of those decisions. This is especially apparent in the areas of curriculum programming and instructional practice. In this proposal, I outline how action research can provide opportunities for more systematically connecting research and educational practice through using existing research to provide a solid theoretical framework to ground the study, provide methodological guidance, and allow for contextualizing the results so research can inform practice and practice can inform research.

Author

• Kim Lebak, Stockton University