Practice to Theory to Practice
Knefelkamp, Golec, & Wells, 1985*
Practice
• Identifying concerns that need to be addressed
• Determining desired goals and outcomes
Description
• Investigating theories that may be helpful in understanding the issue
and achieving the desired goal
• Analyzing relevant student characteristics from the perspective of
the theories identified
• Analyzing characteristics of the environment associated with the
issues from the perspective of identified theories
Translation
• Identifying potential sources of challenge and support, taking into
account both student and environment characteristics, and
recognizing factors that produce balance
Prescription
• Reexamine goals and outcomes in light of the theoretical analysis
• Designing the intervention using methods that will encourage
achievement of goals
Practice
• Implementing the intervention
• Evaluating the outcomes of the intervention
• Redesigning the intervention if necessary
* Evans, N.J., Forney, D.S., Guido-DiBrito, F. (1998). Student development in
college: Theory, research, and practice. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
