Communication, collaboration and co-production in research: Challenges and benefits

Based partly on the personal experiences of the author, this chapter suggests that research use and impact in education should be discussed in a perspective of co-construction. It presents various forms of cooperative knowledge production in which researchers and practitioners communicating bi-directionally support mutual learning and adaptation. Most of these forms require attitudinal and behavioural changes on the part of both researchers and practitioners. Innovation and knowledge-management approaches could add a positive dimension to research use and impact.