Commentary: Moving From Practice to Research, and Back

Abstract

It is a widely accepted idea that knowledge from research needs to be better integrated into practice. Considerable energy is dedicated to strengthening the flow of research to practice. Less attention, however, has been paid to strengthening the ways researchers can learn from practice to improve their work. In this commentary, we draw on our work over the past decade to offer reflections on the nature and pace of practice, the gaps between practitioners’ needs and available research, and the importance of trust and relationships. Although there are no easy responses to these challenges, we can create a dialogue about them and begin to work collectively toward overcoming them.