The Missing Link: The Importance of Policy Implementation Research

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Policy implementation studies are crucial for identifying and removing policy barriers to increase access to higher education. While seemingly unobtrusive, policy implementation can identify where disconnects in policies occur, yet is treated as the missing link between policy making and policy evaluation. This presentation will highlight the results of a recent qualitative study that uses in-depth interviews to probe administrator’s perceptions of access for underrepresented students at a large research institution in southern Florida. The theoretical underpinnings of this study will be shared along with methods for collection to propagate the importance of policy implementation research and elucidate how institutional practice and policy can be remedied for organizational change.

Stream: Organisational Learning, Organisational Change

Paper: A paper has not yet been submitted.

Ruth's research interests include transfer and articulation, alignment of 2-year to 4-year teacher education preparation programs, and educational policy implementation research comparing global perspectives on teacher education with an eye towards leadership efforts in this area. Ruth has also participated in a number of faculty searches, presidential advisory committees, and regularly presents at state and national conferences. Currently, she is full-time advanced standing Ph.D. candidate in USF's Higher Education Administrative program and a research assistant in the Office of Decision Support at the University of South Florida, Tampa. In early Spring 2009, she will be searching for a university-based faculty or educational policy research position. Ruth has an M.Ed. in Art Education from Pennsylvania State University.