Building a policy research agenda in educational technology: current disconnects and future recommendations

In this paper, the authors examine the complex relationship between education research and policymaking, analyzing key barriers and potential solutions for increasing research impact on policy. Four main challenges are identified: differing cultures and incentives between researchers and policymakers, communication barriers, competing values in decision-making, and the political nature of education policy. We posit that bridging research and policy is challenging but may be possible through research designs that consider implementation contexts, relationship building, policy-analytic approaches, and institutional support. We conclude with specific recommendations for expanding policy-related work and research in the field of educational technology as well as related translational work to facilitate better connections to policy and practice.