Design-Based Research: A Decade of Progress in Education Research?

Abstract

Design-based research (DBR) evolved near the beginning of 21st century and was heralded as a practical research methodology that could effectively bridge the chasm between research and practice in formal education. In this article we review characteristics of DBR, and analyze the five most cited DBR articles from each year of this past decade. We illustrate the context, publications, and most popular interventions utilized. We conclude that interest in DBR is increasing and that results provide limited evidence for guarded optimism that the methodology is meeting its promised benefits.