Although there are policy calls for educational research to discover "what works" and thereby inform decision making directly, the research literature argues instead for research to have a "conceptual" impact on practice. Empirical studies also suggest that, when teachers use research, their use is conceptual; research…

This review explores ways in which the mentors of trainee teachers can use research as a means of questioning, understanding and improving their own practices. The first part presents an overview of empirical and theoretical research into mentoring relationships. The second part presents four ways in which mentors might engage with this…