Making research outcomes count in improving educational delivery in Nigeria

Abstract

Research drives innovation and development in virtually every facet of life. Over the years conferences are held which bring researchers together to share and disseminate research outcomes and evidences on education and developmental issues and to explore ways of applying such outcomes to improve policies in educational delivery, quality and impact. In addition, individual members of the academia also conduct one form of research or the other to find solutions to problems of education. Studies have however shown that the outcomes of most of these research activities are not adequately utilized for decision and policy making. Several reasons have been adduced to be responsible for this situation. This study assessed to what extent research outcomes are being utilized to improve educational delivery and determine possible reason for ineffective utilization. The study employed both in-depth interviews and questionnaire to collect data for the study. Population of the study consisted of academia in selected Nigerian Universities, policy makers and stakeholders in education. Data collected was analysed using both content analysis and simple percentages. Findings revealed that research outcomes are not effectively utilized because of lack of access by policy makers as a result of ineffective dissemination and collaboration between researchers and policy makers. This finding calls for urgent need to evolve effective pathways to disseminate research outcomes for effective utilization in education improvement.

Keyword: Research Outcomes; Improving Education; Educational Delivery