By recognizing disconnects between practitioner conceptions of engineering outreach with young people (specifically a lack of focus on cultural relevance), and researcher conceptions of a culturally relevant approach to engineering outreach, we set out to bridge theory and practice by iteratively designing and implementing interventions. We engaged in a cycle of research-informed practice and practice-informed research to develop more culturally relevant approaches to broadening participation in engineering. Research-based findings focused on the importance of understanding common misconceptions of engineering that intervention participants and facilitators may possess. Such understanding enables iterative improvement of activities and research instruments that yield meaningful results. Practice-based insights included findings regarding intervention structure such as needs for different facilitator-to-student ratios for different age groups, and providing volunteer facilitators with a list of “helpful hints” to consider and/or open-ended questions to ask.

中文翻译：

---

使用应用研究与实践循环：迭代改进与文化相关的工程推广

通过认识到从业人员与年轻人之间的工程推广概念（特别是缺乏对文化相关性的关注）与研究人员对工程推广具有文化相关性的方法概念之间的脱节，我们着手通过迭代设计和实施干预措施，在理论和实践之间架起桥梁。我们参与了一个以研究为导向的实践和以实践为依据的研究的循环，以开发更具文化相关性的方法，以扩大对工程的参与。基于研究的发现集中在理解干预参与者和协助者可能具有的常见工程误解的重要性。这样的理解可以迭代地改进活动和研究工具，从而产生有意义的结果。