Research-Practice Partnership
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A Research-Practice Partnership in Education is…
“A long-term collaboration aimed at educational improvement or equitable transformation through engagement with research. These partnerships are intentionally organized to connect diverse forms of expertise and shift power relations in the research endeavor to ensure that all partners have a say in the joint work.” (Farrell, et. al, 2021)
What does this mean?
Research-practice partnerships (RPP) address a disconnect between research and practice. RPP members collaboratively and equitably participate in the development of education. Partners can include university researchers, independent researchers, evaluators, district leaders, teachers, principals, curriculum developers, and leaders of professional development.
The 5 Dimensions of an RPP
Research shows that the five dimensions below support healthy research-practice partnerships. (Henrick, et. al, 2017)
- Build trust and relationships
The RPP works to foster productive relationships in order to engage in collaborative work.
- Conduct research to inform action
RPP research takes into consideration the needs of the partner organization and is designed to balance rigor and feasibility.
- Support the partner organization’s goals
The RPP supports the improvement efforts, priorities, and goals of the partner organization.
- Produce knowledge that can be applied to other educational improvement efforts
The RPP contributes knowledge to the educational field and is disseminated across practice and research venues.
- Build capacity of partners and their organizations
The RPP supports team members and their organizations to productively engage in partnership work and collaborative research in a way that outlives the partnership itself.
Resources
Henrick, E.C., Cobb, P., Penuel, W.R., Jackson, K., & Clark, T. (2017). Assessing Research-Practice Partnerships: Five Dimensions of Effectiveness. New York, NY: William T. Grant Foundation.
Farrell, C.C., Penuel, W.R., Coburn, C.E., Daniel, J., & Steup, L. (2021). Research-Practice Partnerships in Education: The State of the Field. New York, NY: William T. Grant Foundation.