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Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research

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01-05-2018 | Original Article

What Makes Research Useful for Public School Educators?

Authors: Jennifer Watling Neal, Zachary P. Neal, Jennifer A. Lawlor, Kristen J. Mills, Kathryn McAlindon

Published in: Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research | Issue 3/2018

Abstract

In this study, we explored the extent to which educators discuss and prioritize Rogers’ (Diffusion of innovations, The Free Press: New York, 1995) five attributes of innovations—relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, observability, and trialability—in the context of research use. Using a directed content analysis of 54 semi-structured interviews and exemplar quotes, we describe how educators mentioned compatibility most frequently, but also commonly invoked observability and complexity in their discussions of research use. Our results also revealed key differences between educators in executive and non-executive roles. We discuss the implications of our findings for closing the research-practice gap in school-based mental health services and psychosocial interventions.

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County names are pseudonyms to protect the confidentiality of study participants.

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Title: What Makes Research Useful for Public School Educators?
Authors: Jennifer Watling Neal
Zachary P. Neal
Jennifer A. Lawlor
Kristen J. Mills
Kathryn McAlindon
Publication date: 01-05-2018
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research / Issue 3/2018
Print ISSN: 0894-587X
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3289
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-017-0834-x

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