Resistance to Research and Research Utilization: The Death and Life of a Feedback Attempt

Abstract

Some of the problems scientists encounter in making their feedback of research findings relevant and useful to educational practitioners are explored in this paper. Feedback of research findings is considered as the transmission-reception link in the research utilization chain. Two sessions of scientist-practitioner collaboration are described: one in which their interaction was unproductive and alienative, and one in which major progress was made in the direction of scientist clarity and utility and practitioner trust and acceptance. Drawing from the events of these two sessions, a conceptualization of the feedback process is made, with force fields representing the dilemmas facing practitioners in their postures toward scientists and scientific resources, and vice versa. A series of suggested "rules of the game" includes attention to the client's preparation and contract formation, the establishment of trust, the demonstration of valued resources, and the facilitation of client autonomy.a