A recent issue of the Australian Journal of Language and Literacy included an article reporting on a systematic narrative review of the research literature that indicated that there was insufficient evidence to conclude whether genre theory and systemic functional linguistics either 'worked' or 'did not work'. The criteria used to evaluate these…

Policy and research engagement is a timely topic for researchers, decision-makers, and higher education institutions that aim to promote engagement and impact. Examination of the complex research-policy relationship in the higher education sector has been largely overlooked. This paper addresses this issue by presenting findings from in-depth…

Although research scholarship offers valuable guidance to those hoping to use improvement science in their teaching and practice, it tends to center the perspectives of researchers and EdD program faculty. Less research has focused on the voices of practitioners who use improvement science in their schools and organizations. We draw on sensemaking…

There is increasing interest in research-based education in the Western World as it is assumed to strengthen school improvement capacity. Previous research shows that school principals play a pivotal role in realising such vision. The aim of this article is to explore the influence of principals on research-based education in their local municipal…

The ELSA intervention was designed to build schools' capacity to support pupils' emotional wellbeing needs from within their own resources. A wide-ranging research base spanning over 10 years has grown around the ELSA intervention. This scoping review was commissioned by the ELSA Network to systematically identify and map the current composition…

In educational research, the complexity of interventions and the diversity of contexts challenge the adequacy of existing reporting standards, primarily tailored for health interventions and randomised controlled trials. Recognising the critical need for appropriate tools to support education research, we developed two checklists: the CheckList Of…

Introduction: The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) reviews rigorous research on educational interventions with a goal of identifying "what works" and making that information accessible to educators and policymakers. In rating the quality of causal research, the WWC has historically prioritized internal validity over external validity. One…

Background: School-based health education can provide students with learning experiences that improve knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions (KAP) and behaviors regarding physical activity and nutrition. Methods: We conducted a 2-phase systematic review. Phase 1 was a review of reviews (ie, systematic reviews or meta-analyses) that were published…

Despite a history that can be tracked to 1867, the US Department of Education is a relative newcomer to applying evidence standards to education research. The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) reviews intervention research to support evidence-based decision making. This is done by applying standards of research quality to studies and giving those…

Though the concept of validity is rooted in positivism, recent scholars have expanded the definition of validity to reflect more progressive paradigms, opening the door to consideration of validity in qualitative education research. Despite this evolution, to date a review of validity evidence in qualitative research has yet to be undertaken even…

Meta-analytic studies of second language (L2) learning typically employ a classic approach to meta-analysis. Although the classic approach can clarify findings, a multivariate, multilevel meta-analysis (3M) approach increases transparency by accounting for (a) dependencies in the evidence presented by primary studies, (b) methodological…

Building on the insights of the first two publications in the Strengthening the Impact of Education Research series, this third and final report shifts the focus from policy makers to the field, exploring the pivotal role of knowledge intermediaries. These organisations facilitate engagement with research among policy makers and practitioners,…

In 2023, Education Ministers asked that the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO) include wellbeing on its 2024 Research Agenda. In 2024, AERO reviewed and expanded on 2 reports that collated evidence for various wellbeing strategies and interventions. These 2 reports (henceforth, the 'initial reports') were: (1) "High Impact…

The current systematic review study explores instructional designer practices to develop a comprehensive understanding of strategies employed by instructional designers and the expectations of the field. Using the PRISMA protocol, a total of 98 articles were included in the review consisting of 65 qualitative, 15 quantitative, and 18 mixed-methods…

Background: The emergence of causal research in education was almost strictly quantitative twenty years ago, however, that landscape has changed considerably. The number of intervention studies fielded and completed annually has increased substantially, and the quality of the evaluations is much more robust, including paying much greater attention…