Exploring the Dynamics of Educational Research, Policy, and Practice: Enhancing the Power Triangle of Innovative Education for Improved Educational Outcomes

ABSTRACT

The landscape of education is shaped by the dynamic relationship of research, policy, and practice, which collectively constitute the Education Power Triangle. This study intends to examine the complex relationship between these three elements and their impact on policy improvement through educational practices. By comprehending how research findings inform policy decisions and how those policies are implemented in practice, we hope to disentangle the Power Triangles complexities. Using a qualitative case study approach, researchers, educational administrators, and experienced educators were interviewed as key informants. The process of collecting data centered on garnering specific information about their experiences, insights, and observations regarding the impact of research on policy development, policy implementation in practice, and the influence of educational practices on policy advancement. The interview data were analyzed using thematic analysis, which enabled the identification of common themes, patterns, and relationships. The results demonstrated the importance of educational research in informing policy decisions and steering educational practices. In addition, participants discussed the difficulties of translating policies into practical outcomes and the reciprocal relationship between research and practice. Several recommendations are made to improve the relationship between research, policy, and practice, based on the analysis. These recommendations emphasize the need for stronger research-policy links, implementation of evidence-based policies, collaborative decision making, contextual alignment, capacity development, and the establishment of monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. This study contributes to the existing corpus of knowledge by illuminating the dynamics and interactions within the Education Power Triangle. It has implications for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners, emphasizing the need to align these components in order to generate effective policy decisions, evidence-based practices, and ultimately enhance educational outcomes.

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