Developmental Research: Studies of Instructional Design and Development: Rita C. Richey, James D. Klein, Wayne A. Nelson

Abstract

The field of instructional technology has traditionally involved a unique blend of theory and practice. This blend is most obvious in developmental research, those studies that involve the production of knowledge with the ultimate aim of improving the processes of instructional design, development, and evaluation. Such research is based on either situation-specific problem solving or generalized inquiry procedures. Developmental research, as opposed to simple instructional development, has been defined as “the systematic study of designing, developing and evaluating instructional programs, processes and products that must meet the criteria of internal consistency and effectiveness” (Seels & Richey, 1994, p. 127). In its simplest form, developmental research can be eitherthe study of the process and impact of specific instructional design and development efforts; ora situation in which someone is performing instructional design, development, or evaluation activities and studying the process at the same time; orthe study of the instructional design, development, and evaluation process as a whole or of particular process components.