What is Translational Research?
The concept of translational research can be understood differently depending on your perspective or your profession. The term has been around since the early 1990's and is most often associated with the fields of health science, engineering and medicine.
In simple terms, it's about how we make research, which often appears impenetrable to read unless you are an academic, really easy to understand AND put into practice. However, this is much easier said than done. Actually it's a really complex area that is only just starting to happen at in the field of education.
In looking at all the definitions we could find, in all the different disciplines that use the term, we have developed the following definition to underpin the work we carry out as part of this project:
In simple terms, it's about how we make research, which often appears impenetrable to read unless you are an academic, really easy to understand AND put into practice. However, this is much easier said than done. Actually it's a really complex area that is only just starting to happen at in the field of education.
In looking at all the definitions we could find, in all the different disciplines that use the term, we have developed the following definition to underpin the work we carry out as part of this project:
A systematic educational inquiry or investigation, where the findings have been developed and/or shared effectively with practitioners, with the purpose of informing educational practices.
(Jones, Procter, Connolly, Hall & Fazlagić, 2020)
A really important aspect of this definition is the focuses on both 'people' and 'process'.
There are some early examples that look at different elements of what we might describe as translational research in the context of education, and they can be seen here:
T-REX - these is a network for teacher-led research in Ireland
MESHGuides - these are pieces of research which have been presented in maps to ease understanding
OSOS - these are teacher research based innovations
Some related terms that you might have heard of include: evidence informed practice, teacher-led research, knowledge mobilisation, teacher researcher practitioners, research informed practice, school-based research.
There are some early examples that look at different elements of what we might describe as translational research in the context of education, and they can be seen here:
T-REX - these is a network for teacher-led research in Ireland
MESHGuides - these are pieces of research which have been presented in maps to ease understanding
OSOS - these are teacher research based innovations
Some related terms that you might have heard of include: evidence informed practice, teacher-led research, knowledge mobilisation, teacher researcher practitioners, research informed practice, school-based research.
An Invitation...
If you are interested in learning more about this project then please contact us directly via the Project Lead: Dr Sarah-Louise Jones, University of Hull, UK ([email protected]).
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