ABSTRACT
What sets educational design research apart from other forms of scientific inquiry is its commitment to developing theoretical insights and practical solutions simultaneously, in real world (as opposed to laboratory) contexts, together with stakeholders. Many different kinds of solutions can be developed and studied through educational design research, including educational products, processes, programs, or policies. This chapter provides an introduction to educational design research. After a definition and brief description of the main origins of educational design research, characteristics and outputs of this approach are discussed. Following attention to the rich variation in educational design research (e.g. in focus, methods and scope), two prevailing orientations are described: research conducted on interventions, and research conducted through interventions. The chapter concludes with considerations of what distinguishes educational design research from educational design, and from other genres of inquiry.
