Utilization and the Role of the Dissemination Process

A fundamental goal of decision-oriented educational research is to generate information that is useful to participants in the policy and management processes of educational systems. In this chapter we discuss the broad area of educational research utilization and one particular issue, the role of the dissemination process as it influences utilization. This chapter is divided into four major sections. In the first we review some of the current thinking in the field of educational evaluation regarding what constitutes use. How does one recognize it when it occurs? What is the range of potential “uses” possible and probable for DOER? In the second section, we continue to draw from the literature to identify various perspectives on factors that seem to increase or lower the probability of utilization. The third section focuses on one element in the research process, the dissemination of results, and discusses in detail our experiences and what we have learned about the relationship between dissemination and utilization. The chapter closes with a brief discussion of a relatively novel concept, namely, redissemination and its role in a system’s utilization of research information. The third section focuses on one element in the research process, the dissemination of results, and discusses in detail our experiences and what we have learned about the relationship between dissemination and utilization. The chapter closes with a brief discussion of a relatively novel concept, namely, redissemination and its role in a system’s utilization of research information.