A Practitioner’s Guide to Understanding the Evidence

Abstract

A critical element in bridging the research to practice gap is by enhancing practitioner’s ability to identify evidence-based practices. The term evidence-based refers to any practice, intervention, or strategy that is derived from or informed by empirical or data based research. The evidence-based practice model of intervention and decision-making is an approach where practitioners make recommendations based on high-quality research evidence to support the needs of students and teachers to effect positive change. The chapter describes the history of the evidence-based practice movement with respect to educational policy. Next, an overview of empirical research is provided. The description of empirical research includes various types of research designs utilized in school settings (e.g., single-case design, group design) and accompanying quality indicators. The chapter also provides a discussion of the relative strengths of single-case design in identifying evidence-based practice. Finally, the chapter describes the use of resources that practitioners may consult when determining the empirical basis for intervention strategies.