Perspectives Into How Research Evidence Informs Decision Making in Irish Schools

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Thursday 1:45 pm Four Seasons Ballroom 2-3
  In Roundtable Session: Innovative Pathways for Enhancing Research Use: From Scholarly Podcasts to Methodological Insights (Table 9)

Abstract

In Ireland, the integration of research findings to inform educational decisions is increasingly acknowledged as vital in shaping both national and school-level policies. There are three ways in which evidence can inform educational policy and practice: conceptual, instrumental, and symbolic. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in Fall 2023 with seven educational researchers and ten teachers from both primary and secondary schools. The purpose was to examine how research is utilized at both the individual and systems-levels in Irish schools. The findings highlight the intricate nature of applying research evidence to inform educational decisions. Most interviewees reported employing research evidence conceptually, while instances of practical and symbolic applications were also noted.

Authors

• Mark Prendergast, University College Cork

• Courtenay Barrett, Michigan State University