The Chart Essay: A Strategy for Communicating Research Findings to Policymakers and Practitioners

Abstract

The greatest impact of research stems from clearly communicating research findings to policymakers and practitioners. Chart essays are an effective communication technique for this purpose. They (a) link specific research questions to real policy decisions and practical applications and (b) arrange the answer to each question in a chart that highlights actual research data gathered in the field. A study on extracurricular activities is used to illustrate how this technique translates the methods-oriented report into a form that can be readily understood and implemented by practitioners and policymakers.