Working in the research-to-practice gap: Case studies, core principles, and a call to action

As a field, developmental science has embarked on the serious work of translating research findings for use in real world settings, but much research from developmental scientists remains cloistered within university walls. This paper presents a framework for the translation of developmental science to practice, mostly in educational settings, articulating ten core principles for bridging the research-to-practice gap. The principles summarize the key lessons learned from two long-term research-to-practice translational projects: the development of an early childhood numeracy curriculum (the Wesleyan Preschool Math Project) and a research-based summer pre-K for low-income children (Kindergarten Kickstart). The principles (1. Understand the gap; 2. Invest in developing the intervention; 3. Appreciate the naturalistic, real-world context; 4. Maximize uptake, not just efficacy and effectiveness; 5. Acknowledge power and status differentials; 6. Collaborate; 7. Leverage resources; 8. Respect; 9. Practice iterative development; 10. Simplify the final product) reflect central tenets of community-engaged research and intervention design; we emphasize the importance of collaborating with community members; acknowledging power differentials between researchers and practitioners; respecting practitioners as experts in their own right with valuable insight into their classrooms; appreciating naturalistic context; and recognizing the motivations of end-users at every step of intervention design and development. The paper also includes strategies for researchers to maximize opportunities to translate research to practice, such as leveraging untapped resources and mobilizing undergraduate students. This paper is both a call to action and an initial blueprint for developmental scientists who are interested in translating more research into practice.