One of a series of booklets on disability research, this paper is intended as an introduction to the role of evaluation in the utilization process. Its purpose is to help disability researchers grasp the importance of incorporating a focus on assessing use into plans for disseminating research outcomes. The paper begins by examining basic…

The French language article analyzes 60 research projects undertaken in an urban Quebec school board in order to describe the research which has actually been incorporated into educational policies. The article demonstrates the importance of the way in which research is produced and adopted to the circumstances at hand. (Author/SB)

African university research is rarely used by policy-makers in the development planning process because there is mutual suspicion between the university and government, there is a dichotomy between university-based researchers and the rural populations intended as the beneficiaries of development, and research is seriously underfunded. (Author/MSE)

For the past several years, a fact sheet format has been used at Butler County Community College (BCCC) to disseminate research findings across the campus. Prepared as early as possible after the start of each semester, the fact sheets are distributed to every full- and part-time college employee, and to the board of trustees and foundation…

An outline is presented of successful elements of a research program, developed by the American Federation of Teachers, to connect teachers with research-based information. Focus of the research was in the areas of classroom management and teaching effectiveness. The program is implemented through the teacher organization and has the elements of…

Interviews were conducted with 30 teacher educators and the chairperson or dean in 6 undergraduate teacher education programs to investigate their use of research in teacher preparation. Among the findings was evidence that faculty typically learn about research through journals and conferences and discuss research most often in context with other…

The relationship between the social structure of knowledge systems and knowledge syntheses is explored in order to define the social and cultural requirements for effective linkage. Following an introduction (section 1), analysis is divided into 5 additional sections. Section 2 discusses tools for conceptualizing knowledge systems, including…

This paper reviews "The Status of the American Public School Teacher, 1985-86," a report on a survey conducted by the National Education Association (NEA), with the aim of locating specific results or findings in that report that have implications for future research on the teaching profession. Periodic surveys of school teachers conducted by the…

This paper discusses the adequacy of research for informing practice and areas of research that will extend the knowledge base about schooling. The first topic also includes the extent to which existing knowledge has been disseminated. The second topic involves the identification of research topics that merit funding so that knowledge that can…

Two complementary strategies intended to achieve a strengthening of the American educational system within the next 5 years and a transformation of that system within 10 years are presented in this report. The shorter, 5-year strategy targets conventional schools and is intended to help raise student achievement and professional competence. The…

The ICD Research Utilization Laboratory (ICD-RUL) at the Comprehensive Rehabilitation Center at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. acted as a facilitator for improving management practices of supervisors of vocationally impaired populations. Over a 10-year span, ICD-RUL developed two National Information Centers for disabled public assistance…

A questionnaire survey of a random sample of 415 elementary and secondary teachers in the state of Victoria (Australia) sought to determine how research knowledge is disseminated to educators, what the most effective diffusion routes are, and what impact the knowledge has on educational practice. The researchers distinguished between written and…

This report by a National Task Force of the Teacher Corps provides charts, tables, and analysis of two distinct facets of previous analysis of the work of the Teacher Corps. The first is a detailed consideration of the availability and use of technical resources. Included are considerations of the purposes for providing technical resources;…

There is clearly a need to develop strategies that will increase the likelihood that research on teaching will produce results that can and will be applied in the classroom. Problems resulting from the traditional theoretical structure for implementation of educational research arise from the isolation of its components and participants (research,…

Decision-oriented inquiries emanate from a specific need for information and are conducted under a number of constraints. Conclusion-oriented research originates with the researcher and can be pursued in ways decided on by the researcher. Two examples of decision-oriented evaluation studies conducted by school districts and the relationships…