Design-Based Research: Closing the gap between research and practice
The Design-Based Research Collective (2003) advanced that “educational research is often divorced from the problems and issues of everyday practice–a split that resulted in a credibility gap and creates a need for new research approaches that speak directly to problems of practice and that lead to the development of ‘usable knowledge’” (p. 5). Design- Based Research attempts to close the gap between educational research and practice by designing and developing interventions that aim to create solutions to complex educational problems. However, its purpose is not limited to creating these programs or interventions, it also seeks to advance knowledge about the characteristics of these strategies and the processes to design and develop them with the intention of developing or validating theories (Plomp, 2010).
Characteristics of Design-Based Research
1. Captures the complexities and realities of everyday classrooms.
2. Emphasizes co-design with participants and practitioners.
3. Uses mixed methods.
4. Involves multiple prototypes and iterations
5. Calls for partnerships between practitioners and researchers.
Teachers participate in a workshop with researchers as they develop the HEY! curriculum.
Parents and students participate in a workshop to provide input in the development of the HEY! curriculum.