Negotiating Trust, Power, and Culture in a Research–Practice Partnership

Abstract

This article describes the role of culture and power in building a research-practice partnership (RPP). The original aims that drove the building of the RPP were to generate and use research to inform the programs and services provided by the youthserving organization to Latinx youth and to use the findings to inform research on how to broaden participation in computing. In this article, we describe how the RPP evolved. Data include documentation from meeting notes, e-mails, and observations as well as interviews with practitioners. The results suggest that the research goals and process changed when the partners began to critically analyze and discuss the role of power and culture, and adjustments to the methods and theoretical grounding of the research were made as a result. The lessons learned are summarized in terms of their implications for generating research that has both theoretical and social justice implications.

Learning hand in hand: Engaging in research–practice partnerships to advance developmental science

“…This can be a challenge for researchers, who are used to articulating research questions upfront and systematically testing their hypotheses. As noted by Denner, Bean, Campe, Martinez, and Torres (2019), research–practice partnerships can be uncomfortable and require a willingness for the partners to critically assess roles that hierarchies and culture play in creating opportunities for establishing and aligning priorities, breaking down stereotypes and working collaboratively. In our own work, we have found that allowing team members to really get to know each other and fostering regular communication, including as many opportunities as possible for in‐person communication, are essential for partnerships that build trust.…”

Assessing the Quality of Education Research Through Its Relevance to Practice: An Integrative Review of Research-Practice Partnerships

“…Vakil et al (2016) highlighted the importance of acknowledging the underlying tensions of race and power dynamics in partnerships as partners cultivate trust. Race and power are interacting in complex ways in RPPs between the different actors (Denner et al, 2019). Denner et al, (2019) examined the role of culture and power in the construction and evolution of the RPP and found that over time, dynamics of RPP become just as important as the “finding” produced.…”

“…Race and power are interacting in complex ways in RPPs between the different actors (Denner et al, 2019). Denner et al, (2019) examined the role of culture and power in the construction and evolution of the RPP and found that over time, dynamics of RPP become just as important as the “finding” produced.…”

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“…Like action and practice research, RPPs value the practical knowledge of educators and engage them as co-participants in research activities. At the same time, scholars engaged in research-practice partnerships aim to produce generalizable knowledge (Henrick et al, 2017) and study dynamics and outcomes both empirically and critically, using a variety of approaches, including conducting experiments (Blazar & Kraft , 2019), case studies (e.g., Denner, Bean, Campe, Martinez & Torres, 2019), and design studies (e.g., Borko et al, 2017). Th is stands in contrast to much action research, practice research, and accompanying research, which focuses on the development of locally relevant knowledge and evidence of the impact of innovations.…”