Dissemination of the Findings of Educational Research

This article describes the organisation and recent expansion of educational research in the Asia-Pacific region and how findings are disseminated, particularly to educational practitioners and policy-makers as well as to other researchers. It also discusses the use and impact of research findings, and possible means to improve utilisation of the findings of educational research. The Asia-Pacific region is a vast area stretching from the Middle East in the west to various Pacific Island nations in the east, and including the Indian subcontinent, China and other North Asian countries, South East Asia, and Australia and New Zealand. Together this region with well over three billion people and approximately 60 per cent of the world's population presents a picture of impressive diversity and variety, and rapid change. The region includes two countries each with populations of over one billion as well as very small nations. It is home to major economies such as Japan, as well as to some of the world's poorest nations. Similarly, education systems and educational research capacities vary greatly. In a small number of countries, particularly OECD member countries and China and India, educational research is well supported and well developed, with strong regional and international links. In contrast, in small and far less wealthy nations, educational research efforts are limited and often consist of little more than the collection and analysis of basic student enrolment statistics.