Research informing practice in early childhood intervention: how hard can it be

The adoption of interventions for infants and young children with disabilities/delays or at risk of disability/delay is likely to be influenced by sources other than research evidence. Where the available research evidence does influence the choice of intervention, there may be difficulties translating research that has been implemented in a controlled environment to an intervention that can be successfully applied in natural settings. Such settings include the family home as well as early childhood education and care centers. Incentives for the use of evidence-based interventions in early intervention settings include improved outcomes for infants and young children, service credibility, and program accountability. Barriers to using evidence-based practice (EBP) in natural settings include difficulties with identifying EBP and in reliably implementing evidence-based interventions. Lack of quality professional training and absence of support from competent coaches/mentors can also compromise the adoption and effective implementation of EBP. Collaborative partnerships between researchers and practitioners, where the goals of both parties have equal value, may assist with bridging the research-to-practice gap. Incentives, barriers, and opportunities are explored in this article.