Addressing the Gap: Educational Research and its Implementation

Abstract

Education is an essential feature of every civilization as it attempts to develop the various aspects of knowledge of the community. Research in education is a significant topic for study itself to connect research and practice in Education. Therefore, research in education must become a priority as it bridges the existence of any gap between the findings of research and the implementation of the recommendations, and to limit any future possibility of its existence. The applicability of research findings is not whether it leads to clear implications for practice, but also whether the implications will materialise in the educational setting and whether the stakeholders will accommodate to the required changes (Bridges, 2015). This paper offers some definitions of educational research and its characteristics, types and levels of educational, and investigates its limitations in practice- the gap between research and practice. There is reference to research in higher education in the Arab world in general and Lebanon in particular. Suggestions are made to support the connection between educational research and educational practice mainly through Research-Practice collaboration. These include the need to support researchers by various bodies in the education field such as universities, governmental institutions, research centers and educational organisations, and more importantly to offer the findings and follow up the implementation practices to help practitioners overcome the real world problems.