Closing the gap between teaching practice and educational research: Science Teachers with a PhD degree conducting practice-oriented research in school context.

There are numerous indications of a gap between educational research and teaching practice. Practice-oriented research is considered an appropriate research approach since it can result in both scientifically and practically relevant knowledge. This study zooms in on the impact of 20 postdoctoral research projects conducted by science & math teachers holding a PhD degree, within their own school. By means of annual reports, school visits and peer review meetings data is collected about the impact of these project in terms of scope, degree and sustainability. The results indicate that important conditions for achieving impact are opportunities to share research results with colleagues inside and outside schools, alignment of research project with school policy and an involved university-based supervisor to support the research.