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Design Research in Mathematics Education

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Encyclopedia of Mathematics Education

Definition

Design-based research is a formative approach to research, in which a product or process (or “tool”) is envisaged, designed, developed, and refined through cycles of enactment, observation, analysis, and redesign, with systematic feedback from end users. In education, such tools might, for example, include innovative teaching methods, materials, professional development programs, and/or assessment tasks. Educational theory is used to inform the design and refinement of the tools and is itself refined during the research process. Its goals are to create innovative tools for others to use, describe, and explain how these tools function, account for the range of implementations that occur, and develop principles and theories that may guide future designs. Ultimately, the goal is transformative; we seek to create new teaching and learning possibilities and study their impact on teachers, children, and other end users.

The Origins and Need for Design Research

Educational research...

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Research in Mathematics Education, Jubilee Campus, School of Education, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK

    Malcolm Swan

Authors
  1. Malcolm Swan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Malcolm Swan .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Education, Centre for Mathematics Education, London South Bank University, London, UK

    Stephen Lerman

Section Editor information

  1. Department of Mathematical Sciences, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA

    Bharath Sriraman

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Swan, M. (2020). Design Research in Mathematics Education. In: Lerman, S. (eds) Encyclopedia of Mathematics Education. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-15789-0_180

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